The Executive Director of Eco-Concious Citizens, Awula Serwaa, has called on the government to immediately repeal Legislative Instrument 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves.
In an interview with ABC Midday News on Monday, Serwaa emphasized the dire consequences of the law, stating, “We are supposed to be protecting our forest reserves. And what L.I 2462 does is that it allows mining in forest reserves and where still globally significant bio-diversity areas.”
She stressed that the continued degradation of these areas threatens both the environment and human health, highlighting a rise in kidney disease, neurological challenges, and maternal death linked to irresponsible mining practices.
Serwaa’s appeal comes in response to similar concerns voiced by Land Economist, Prof. Seth Asiamah. Asiamah condemned L.I 2462, describing it as an “affront to the preservation of the country’s forest reserve.”
He dismissed proposals for a review, insisting, “We must take it (L.I 2462) off immediately. Just take it off, because it is inimical to the growth of this country.”
Asiamah also urged the government to hold accountable those involved in illegal mining, including paramount chiefs, following recent severe water contamination in River Pra.
Prof. Asiamah’s comments, made on ABC In the Morning, underscore the growing urgency for government action.
He criticized the lack of progress despite continuous civil society efforts, declaring, “It is a shame.”
The professor also suggested that higher-level chiefs complicit in galamsey activities should be targeted, asserting that state intervention is necessary to address the problem effectively.
The environmental and health repercussions of L.I 2462 have sparked widespread outcry, with experts and activists alike demanding decisive action.
Serwaa cautioned that the destruction of forests not only impacts local livelihoods but also jeopardizes national well-being, stating, “When the last tree dies, the last man dies. The forests are our lungs. Mining is not the only economic activity left in Ghana.”
