Hot SourceA number of environmental CSOs, including Eco-Conscious Citizens, are disappointed that the Mahama administration is amending, instead of revoking LI 2642, the legislative instrument which virtually allows unfettered mining in forest reserves.
Environmental CSOs marked yesterday’s World Forest Day by drawing attention to the fact that what has been laid before parliament is an amendment of LI 2462, and not a revocation of the legislative instrument, which does not stop mining in forest reserves.
Members of Eco-Conscious Citizens marked World Forest Day by sensitising people in and outside the Forestry Commission’s headquarters in Accra about why the “perverse law” has to be completely revoked.
The Akufo-Addo government in the run up to last year’s general election agreed to the LI’s revocation. And whilst in opposition, the NDC party and Mahama also agreed to its revocation.
Eco-Conscious Citizens and its supporters take the opportunity today to mark World Water Day, bearing in mind that many of our major water bodies take their source from forests, to remind President Mahama of the promise he made to Ghanaians at the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs on Monday, October 14 2024:
“With the pressure from Organised Labour, the government has agreed to repeal that LI and replace it and so I hope that it will be done before we come into office. If it is done, that is it. If it is not done, we come, we will repeal that LI so that we can stop mining in forest reserves.“
“Please Mr President, on that day you promised to repeal, not amend LI 2462. We urge your administration to keep your promise,” says Eco-Conscious Citizens founder and director Awula Serwah.
“Mr President, you went on to point out to your distinguished audience that: ‘Until they amended the LI, you couldn’t go and mine in forest reserves. Once this government came and amended the LI that is what has resulted in the free-for-all in all forest reserves. And you should see the desecration of these reserves.’”
Ghanaians can see the devastation that has been done to our forests and waterbodies, and the longer any part of this LI stays on the statute book, the more our forest reserves continue to be devastated.
“Mr President, yesterday, you and your sector minister launched the Tree For Life initiative. LI 2462 is clearly inimical to the intentions of this initiative. Please give Ghanaians the revocation you promised them, now that you are in office,” adds Awula Serwah.
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