Three National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) have initiated a Private Members’ Bill aimed at repealing Section 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).
The L.I. grants the President authority to issue mining leases for exploration within forest reserves in Ghana.
The trio are Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, Madina MP; Francis Xavier Sosu and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The lawmakers submitted the bill in a formal memo to the Clerk of Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, in the wake of the indefinite suspension of the House.
They noted that, this regulation has resulted in significant environmental degradation along with adverse health, economic, and social consequences.
The MPs are therefore of the view that they bear a greater responsibility to ensure the right of Ghanaians to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
They emphasised that their duty includes holding the Executive in check and crafting laws and policies that protect public health, ecosystems, and the environment.
“Hence, it is in view of the above, and considering that Parliament passed this all-important and consequential L.I. 2462, which among others, 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, that we by this proposed Bill, seek to repeal Section 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462), which grants the President the authority to issue mining leases for exploration in forest reserves in Ghana,” portions of the memo read.
The government had earlier announced plans to present a L.I. to Parliament following a public outcry and demands by Organised Labour.
However, Deputy Majority Leader and Sefwi-Akontombra MP, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah has said the House is yet to receive the L.I
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