Parliament has officially received Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, a bold reform aimed at enhancing environmental governance by stripping the President of the authority to grant mining licenses in forest reserves.
The long-anticipated L.I. was successfully laid on Thursday, March 20, after an initial delay due to procedural concerns raised earlier in the week.
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen efforts to combat illegal mining (galamsey) and safeguard Ghana’s forests.
Forest mining bill
The process hit a brief snag on Tuesday when a disagreement emerged between the Majority and Minority caucuses regarding the required pre-laying procedures.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that the L.I. undergo a mandatory three-day pre-laying process before formal presentation, while Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga maintained that the single-clause amendment had already gained broad consensus.
Following extensive deliberations, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled in favour of the pre-laying process, directing the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to review the instrument and submit a report by Thursday, March 20. With this requirement fulfilled, the L.I. was officially laid before Parliament.
Presenting the instrument on behalf of the Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, Minister for Local Government Ahmed Ibrahim emphasized that the government had taken public concerns into account.
He noted that the revocation of presidential mining licensing powers would enhance accountability and improve Ghana’s environmental image.
Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Patrick Boamah, confirmed that New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs support the policy’s rationale.
The L.I. is set to take effect after 21 sitting days in Parliament. If passed, it will mark a significant step toward preserving Ghana’s natural resources and strengthening regulatory frameworks for responsible mining.
By Osumanu A-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com