The Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has spoken against the politicisation of the illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) menace. He said this in Parliament on Tuesday, October 15 after announcing that the government was to present a new Legislative Instrument (LI) to Parliament aimed at revoking previous regulations that allowed mining activities in these sensitive areas.
“President Akufo-Addo has directed the Ministry of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend the enforcement of L immediately.I 2462 on mining in forest reserves. He emphasized that the issue of illegal mining should not be politicized, as it is a challenge that transcends political boundaries.
This comes after a meeting with Organised Labour on Tuesday, October 8 after the latter had announced they will declare a nationwide strike on October 10 if the government fails to take action against illegal mining. In a statement issued on October 9 by the Office of the Presidency, President Akufo-Addo outlined several measures to address concerns raised by Organised Labour.
These include; a directive for the Defence Minister to deploy additional military forces to intensify ‘Operation Halt’ in curbing illegal mining activities. “The operation will be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies,” the statement said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin who is also a lawmaker for Effutu emphasised the government’s determination to stop the destructive practice, saying, “This revocation is a clear demonstration of our commitment to addressing the illegal mining menace that has wreaked havoc on our environment.”
Stakeholders had called on the government to suspend the LI. For instance, a Former Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Dr Anthony Aubynn said it is inimical to the environment and the well-being of Ghanaians.
“Why are we mining on water bodies which the law says don’t? No law in Ghana allows people to mine on water bodies. How can we make this law, I have been wondering why that law was passed, that law must be repealed, it is inimical to the environment and the well-being ” he said while speaking during the thought leadership forum on the theme “Galamsey Fight: Beyond the talk, what next?” organized by Media General in Accra on Wednesday, September 25,
He further appealed to President Akufo-Addo to announce a ban on mining on rivers. “President Akufo-Addo, please do another Fellow Ghanaians and announce that fellow Ghanaians, no mining on waterbodies.” The Director of the Nature and Development Foundation, Mustapha Seidu, also said Ghana experienced unprecedented wild hurry for mining leases when the L.I was passed.
He stated that the L.I is bad and called for its abolishment after arguing that it flouts all the policies and agreements signed for a green environment. Speaking during the thought leadership forum on the theme “Galamsey Fight: Beyond the talk, what next?” organized by Media General in Accra on Wednesday, September 25, the foundation said, “There is a legal regime in mining in first reserve, it is an infamous law because it is a bad law.”
He further noted that there was an “unprecedented mud rush for leases to mine in first reserves following the passage of that law. It is a reversal of all our international commitment for sustainable forest management, for climate change for policies to ensure that we have a green environment.” The Foundation is not the only body calling for the repeal of this law.
An earlier joint statement released by the Research Staff Association at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Research Scientists Association at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) is calling for an immediate recall of Parliament to repeal
The scientists say if Members of Parliament can be recalled to grant tax exemptions for companies they believe bring substantial investments, they should act with similar urgency to address the galamsey crisis. “This issue 9galamsey) is a ticking time bomb, threatening to derail all the economic gains and investments made by the nation, and thus immediate action is needed, the statement said.
