Ghana to revoke law allowing mining in forests after devastating effects

Published by Eco Media on

mining in forests
Image Credit: SERVIR West Africa

 

ACCRA, (Eco Media Africa) — The government of Ghana has announced it will revoke the law that permits mining in forest reserves.

The law, (L.I. 2462), was passed despite objections from experts and activists, who warned of its devastating impact on the environment.

For years, activists have questioned whether any government official seriously considered the consequences of the bill. Since its passage, there has been a surge in applications to mine in forest reserves.

An investigation by The Fourth Estate revealed that top political figures have benefited from the law, obtaining licences to mine in these reserves. Among those granted leases are companies owned by high-profile political figures such as Sam Pyne, Mayor of Kumasi; Emmanuel Boakye, District Chief Executive of Wassa East, who co-owns a company with the deputy regional women’s organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); and Francis Owusu-Akyaw, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Juaben.

Data from the Forestry Commission shows that illegal mining has destroyed close to 30 forest reserves, a direct consequence of the law, which enabled these environmental crimes.

After witnessing the devastating effects, the same president who signed the bill into law is now calling for its revocation. It remains unclear whether the bill will be repealed before the presidential election on 7 December, as the nation’s parliament has been indefinitely adjourned.

To gain a nuanced understanding of the issue, we spoke to a leading environmental activist in Ghana, Awula Serwah, Esq., founder of Eco-Conscious, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to revoke the bill.

Q: What are your thoughts on the government’s decision to revoke the law allowing mining in forest reserves, and do you think this move will have a significant impact on the environment?

Serwah: The government has finally listened to this demand—better late than never! We have been campaigning against L.I. 2462 since it came to our notice.

The revocation is a step in the right direction. It is perverse that section 3 (1) allows mining in forest reserves, including globally significant biodiversity areas, if the President deems it to be in the national interest. It can never be in the national interest to destroy globally significant biodiversity areas, and it is a relief that the government is finally taking steps to revoke L.I. 2462.

Q: Do you think the government’s decision to revoke the law is a response to pressure from civil society organisations and activists, or are there other factors at play?

Serwah: It is definitely a response to pressure from civil society, which was amplified by organised labour and other concerned voices.

Q: How do you think the government can ensure that any future policies or laws related to mining in forest reserves are more effective and sustainable?

Serwah: The government needs to remember that we destroy the environment at our peril. When the last tree dies, the last man dies. The government must prioritise the environment over profits and consider the green economy. Forests have intrinsic value, whether through carbon credits or innovative businesses such as Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing).

The government must think laterally. Until there are mining methods that do not vandalise our forests, some minerals should be left in the ground. A year ago, in a nationwide referendum, Ecuadorians did something extraordinary—nearly 59% of voters chose to leave billions of dollars worth of heavy crude oil in the ground.

The existential threat posed by mining, which leaves our countryside looking like a war zone with poisoned water and soil, means Ghana needs to take a bold step for people and the planet.

A rise in kidney disease, cancer, maternal deaths, and birth defects is not acceptable collateral damage. Instead of thinking narrowly, the government should invest in the green economy, which not only creates sustainable jobs but also avoids negative health impacts.

Q: How do you think the government can balance the need for economic growth with the need to protect the environment and preserve natural resources?

Serwah: By abiding by the conventions it has signed and not just paying lip service to them. In any case, economic growth can stem from the health and wellness sector. In 2021, the global wellness market was estimated at more than $1.5 trillion, with annual growth of 5-10%.

Wellness tourism, which includes activities aimed at improving an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, was valued at $814.6 billion in 2022.

Ghana could carve out a share of that market by monetising its natural resources in a way that preserves forest reserves and pristine rivers while leveraging them to develop a sustainable and profitable green economy.

Mining is a short-term approach that ends up costing us more when we factor in the cost of restoring and repairing the damaged environment. The resulting health challenges add to the cost of mining, making its profitability a mirage.

 


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