Former Adentan MP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has called on President Akufo-Addo to initiate the repeal of the Legislative Instrument (LI) allowing for prospecting in forest reserves, rather than forming a ministerial committee to tackle illegal small-scale mining.
The Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022 (LI 2462) was introduced to regulate mining in forest reserves. However, Buaben Asamoa believes it needs amending, urging an immediate halt to the issuance of new mining licenses as a more effective solution.
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Speaking on TV3’s “The Big Issue” on Monday, September 17, Buaben Asamoa dismissed the president’s recently formed ministerial committee, labeling it “useless” and ineffective in the short time left in the administration’s term. He argued that practical steps, including the repeal of the LI, stopping excavators from entering the forests, and halting new mining permits, are more necessary than a state of emergency.
The committee, chaired by National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, was formed to assess efforts to combat illegal mining, but Buaben Asamoa maintains it will not yield significant results in time to make a lasting impact on the galamsey issue.