A heated debate erupted in Parliament today over the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which seeks to revoke the President’s authority to grant permission for mining in forest reserves.
Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala was set to lay the instrument before the House, but disagreements between the Majority and Minority caucuses over procedural requirements stalled the process.
If passed, L.I. 2462 would strip the President of the power to approve mining licenses in forest reserves, a move aimed at tackling illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
However, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that the L.I. must undergo a pre-laying process before being formally introduced in Parliament.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga disagreed, arguing that the regulation is a straightforward, one-clause instrument that already has broad consensus.
“This was a major promise of President John Dramani Mahama and his government, and today, we are seeing its implementation to address galamsey in our forest reserves,” he stated.
“We are removing the President’s discretion to grant mining concessions in forest reserves. The minister is ready, the instrument is in the House, and we want to lay it.”
Education Minister and MP Haruna Iddrisu backed Ayariga’s stance, describing the galamsey crisis as a national emergency that requires swift action. He warned that delaying the L.I. would only worsen environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
Former Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, however, pushed for further consultations before laying the L.I., a position supported by some Minority members who stressed the need to follow parliamentary procedures.
As the debate intensified, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled that a three-day pre-laying process must be observed. He directed the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to review the L.I. and report back by Thursday, March 20.
Until then, the laying of L.I. 2462 has been put on hold. The Deputy Speaker cautioned that if the committee fails to meet the deadline, he would allow the instrument to be laid without further delay.
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