The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has disclosed that a new Legislative Instrument (LI) 2501 will soon be laid before Parliament to revoke the controversial LI 2462, which has faced widespread criticisms for allowing mining in forest reserves.
Speaking during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the galamsey crisis, on Friday, October 3, Dr Ayine said legal and regulatory reforms are central to the government’s strategy in tackling illegal mining.
He explained that under the current Minerals and Mining Act, licences and leases may be issued across the entire country, including forest reserves, territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
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Dr Ayine said that his office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has completed work on the LI 2501.
He confirmed that the instrument will be laid before Parliament on October 14, when the House of Parliament resumes.
“The minister and I have agreed that on the 14th of October, when Parliament resumes, we will lay that instrument to revoke the famous LI 2462. So, immediately it is laid, within 21 days it matures, and from that time onwards, we will not have LI 2462,” he emphasised.
This loophole, he noted, has enabled destructive exploitation in sensitive ecological areas.
To close the gap, Dr Dominic Ayine disclosed that a bill is being prepared to impose an outright prohibition on mining in forest reserves.
He said the proposal includes attaching a schedule of all forest reserves to the bill, making it clear that no licence or lease could be granted in those areas.
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According to him, such provisions would make it politically difficult to weaken environmental protections without parliamentary approval, thereby providing stronger safeguards for the nation’s natural resources.
MRA/AE
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