President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the immediate suspension of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462).
This forms part of a broader effort by the government to address growing concerns over the environmental damage caused by galamsey, particularly in forest reserves and water bodies.
The President’s directive, issued on October 9, comes in response to a recent call from Organised Labour, which had demanded concrete actions to combat the illegal mining activities that continue to plague the nation’s natural resources.
The suspension of L.I. 2462, a regulation many says has bolstered mining activities in forest reserves, is expected to halt all mining activities in these protected areas while authorities work to address the rampant illegal operations.
“The President has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), with immediate effect,” the statement from Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, announced in part.
In addition, the President has directed the Ministry of Defence to deploy additional military personnel to bolster Operation Halt, the ongoing military operation aimed at eradicating illegal mining activities.
Naval boats will also be deployed on polluted rivers to ensure the cessation of both legal and illegal mining along these vital water sources.
The government is also ramping up its legal efforts against galamsey by expanding the number of courts dedicated to prosecuting illegal mining cases.
“To enhance legal action against illegal mining activities, the President has further directed the Attorney General to work with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, Organized Labour has suspended its intended strike action originally slated for October 10, indicating that government has began taking concrete steps.
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