Parliament saw a heated debate on Tuesday, March 18, regarding the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which seeks to revoke the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, the Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, was set to present the L.I., but disagreements between the Majority and Minority parties delayed the process.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin insisted that the L.I. undergo a pre-laying process before being formally introduced. He emphasized the importance of following parliamentary procedures to ensure thorough scrutiny.
“Mr. Speaker, I request that you place the application on hold and direct that the minister goes through the necessary pre-laying process before the formal laying,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
Former Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor supported his leader, arguing for the necessity of the pre-laying process. “As we speak, mining is taking place in nearly all the forest reserves of this country,” he noted. “The pre-laying is essential for us to properly examine and discuss how this regulation can be formulated and presented in a way that genuinely removes the President’s discretion in granting mining rights.”
On the other hand, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga argued that the L.I. was a simple, one-clause regulation that had already gained consensus. He stressed its importance in tackling illegal mining, or galamsey, and fulfilling a key promise from President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Ayariga warned that further delays would impede efforts to address the environmental damage caused by galamsey.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu also supported Ayariga, describing the galamsey crisis as a national emergency that required urgent action.
After intense discussions, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled that a three-day pre-laying process must be observed. He instructed the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to review the L.I. and report back by March 20.
