Environmentalists picket to protest LI2462
This week, environmentalists from our sister groups in Ghana picketed at the Minerals Commission and the Parliament of Ghana to protest the clandestine passing of L.I. 2462.
The new Legal Instrument L.I. 2462 ‘Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations’ was passed in November 2022 on the blind side of CSOs in Ghana. The LI allows, among other things:
- No limit on the size of forest reserve that can be mined. It was previously 2%. Consequently, after the L.I. was passed, mining permits covering large swats of forest reserves have been granted, including Nkrabia, Boin Tano,
Anhwiaso East, and Tano Anwia forest reserves. - Allows mining in Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) such as Tano Offin and Atewa Range Forest Reserves which were previously prohibited.
- Requirement for Forest Entry permits prior to forest entry is now the last requirement.
- Has no firm requirement for mining firms to restore mined forests.
There are 47 active Forest Entry Permits for prospecting in 31 forest reserves, of which 11 reserves had multiple licenses (such as Oda River with 5, Desiri with 4, Apamprama with 3).
The government of Ghana, with support from Ghana's Parliament, is now the single biggest risk to Ghana's environment, our fight against irresponsible mining and a significant obstacle to Ghana reaching its Climate change fighting goals.
Do support our fight by letting Ghanaian leaders know that their double standards endanger our country's sustainability and resilience.