Three Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have tabled a Private Members' Bill aimed at repealing Section 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).

This section grants the President the authority to issue mining leases for exploration within forest reserves in Ghana.

The bill was formally submitted to the Clerk of Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, by Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini, Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu, and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The MPs argue that, as lawmakers, they have a crucial responsibility to uphold the rights of Ghanaians to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. They emphasized their duty to hold the Executive accountable and to craft laws and policies that safeguard public health, ecosystems, and the environment.

Notably, the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) has previously expressed shock and disappointment at the enactment of L.I. 2462, which facilitated mining in forest reserves. The legislators highlighted that this regulation has led to significant environmental degradation and has had adverse health, economic, and social repercussions.

In their statement, the MPs said, “Considering that Parliament passed this all-important and consequential L.I. 2462, which grants His Excellency the President the authority to issue mining leases for exploration in forest reserves, the impact of which has brought so much environmental degradation, as well as health, economic, and social devastation to our country, we seek to repeal Section 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).”

In response to the growing concerns over environmental protection, the government has announced plans to introduce a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) in Parliament that will revoke previous regulations allowing mining activities in these sensitive areas. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to environmental conservation.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Effutu MP and Leader of Government Business, disclosed this during a parliamentary session on October 15.

He explained that the new regulation, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), was crafted with technical support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General’s Department.

This new instrument is part of the government’s broader strategy to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which has caused extensive damage to forest reserves, water bodies, and agricultural lands across the country.