Former Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has called for a pre-laying procedure on the amendment concerning mining in forest reserves, stressing the need for thorough discussions to address the deep-rooted issues surrounding galamsey.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Damongo MP urged lawmakers to acknowledge the reality of political interference in illegal mining and ensure that any amendments effectively remove presidential discretion in granting mining rights in forest reserves.
“I rise to support the position of the Minority Leader on the need for some pre-laying procedure,” Jinapor stated.
He explained that while the Constitution vests all mineral rights in the President, previous attempts to amend the law had already been initiated.
“The previous government, in which I had the privilege of being Minister, announced publicly and the Attorney General actually took steps in the course of the eighth Parliament to effect this same amendment,” he noted.
Jinapor argued that the pre-laying procedure is necessary because the submissions by the Majority Leader and the Education Minister do not fully capture the complexities of the issue.
“Mr Speaker, as we speak today, mining is happening in almost all the forest reserves of our country. The Coalition Against Galamsey, led by the respected Ken Ashigbey, has actually come out with a report detailing how political party kingpins, believing that their party has won power, are taking over the forest reserves of our country,” he revealed.
He cautioned against ignoring the extent of illegal mining operations and challenged Parliament to confront the truth.
“The only thing that can prevent the fight against galamsey is a lack of candour,” he declared.
“If anybody stands here and says that political party kingpins have not taken over forest reserves and are mining, let’s say it and let’s give ourselves six months, one year, two years, and we will see where galamsey will be.”
Jinapor insisted that a pre-laying procedure would allow for in-depth scrutiny of the amendment to ensure it effectively removes presidential discretion in granting mining rights in forest reserves.
However, he warned that under the current legal framework, the President retains the authority to approve such activities despite any amendments.
“Let us accept the truth and be honest about what is happening today,” he urged.
“That is why I’m saying that the pre-laying is necessary for us to have a thorough, in-depth interrogation and discussion on how this can be formulated and presented in a manner that would truly, if that is what we want to achieve, oust the discretion of the President in granting rights for mining in forest reserves.”
Concluding his submission, Jinapor issued a stark warning about the state of Ghana’s forest reserves.
“As we speak, the forest reserves of our country have been invaded,” he stated.
“If we do not take decisive action now, we will soon find ourselves in a situation beyond redemption.”
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