Samuel Nartey George, the minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation has told President John Dramani Mahama to scrap the Legislative Instrument (LI 2462) which permits mining in forest reserves.
It will be recalled John Mahama during his campaign promised to scrap LI 2462 but has now rather sought to amend it which has sparked a strong stance from environmental advocates and civil society organisations, who have voiced disappointment over the Mahama administration’s decision.
Speaking on Morning Starr Sam George stated, “I have made my personal opinion on the decision to amend the LI on mining and forest reserves. I hold the view that LI should be scrapped. It shouldn’t be amended”.
“There must be absolutely no mining in river bodies or in forest reserves. There should be no room for any discretion taken by any political appointee”.
“Illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves is a criminal act. I don’t care who is involved in it – whether they are NDC or NPP – deal with them, arrest them, jail them”, Sam George added.
He warned that illegal mining consequences know no NDC or NPP.
According to Sam George, the Ghana Water Company does not ask one party colour before water flows into their house.
He noted that anyone engaged in illegal mining are criminal and an enemy of the state.
Sam George added, “When they contaminate the water, the Ghana Water Company doesn’t ask what your party colour is before that water flows into your house. If you’re engaged in illegal mining, you are a criminal and an enemy of the state”.
“If we don’t handle galamsey very well, it has the potential of eroding the goodwill the government is enjoying,” he warned, echoing fears expressed by environmentalists and civil society organisations”, he stated emphatically.
He further expressed confidence in the land minister and the Defence minister in their fight against galamsey so far.
He added, “I’m confident that looking at what Kofi Armah Buah (Minister for Lands and Natural Resources) and Dr. Omane Boamah (Minister for Defence) have started doing, there’s hope. In the short term, we should see more action like we saw two days ago from the joint military team”.
The communication minister further added that the Legislative Instrument which permits mining in forest reserves should be scrapped not amended.
Meanwhile, Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, a Ghanaian media personality has announced a three-day demonstration against the John Mahama administration over their handling of the galamsey menace.
The three-day demo is scheduled to take place between April 28th to 30th, 2025 on the theme “Ghana’s Future Is Worth Fighting For”.
Okatakyie Afrifa has rallied citizens to rise and speak out against what he described as a national crisis threatening the country’s environment, natural resources, and future prosperity.
