A Rocha Ghana, 6 others sue govt over ‘galamsey’

A Rocha Ghana, a prominent environmental organization, has allied with six civil society groups to initiate legal action against the government concerning illegal mining activities within forest reserves.

The coalition, which includes Kasa Ghana, Eco-Conscious Citizens, Tropenbos, Nature and Development Foundation, Civic Response, and Media Coalition Against Galamsey, expresses grave concerns over the detrimental effects of mining in these protected areas.

The coalition points to the passage of LI 2462 in 2022 as a catalyst for widespread destruction in Ghana’s forest reserves, which jeopardizes the livelihoods of countless citizens.

This legislation has allowed mining operations in areas previously designated for conservation, raising alarms about the ecological and social consequences of such activities.

In an emergency press briefing held at the A Rocha head office in Accra, Deputy National Director Daryl Bossu articulated the coalition’s urgent mission to secure an injunction to stop mining and prospecting in these vital areas.

The group’s legal challenge will contest the validity of LI 2462, asserting that the regulation was enacted without the required environmental impact analysis, as mandated by the Public Financial Management Act.

Bossu further revealed that the Minerals Commission continues to accept mining applications in forest reserves, including submissions as recent as August 2024.

“This failure to follow due process renders the regulation null and void,” he emphasized, underscoring the coalition’s determination to protect Ghana’s environmental integrity against unlawful exploitation.