6 environmental and civic organisations initiate legal action against mining in forest reserves

A coalition of six environmental and civic organisations in Ghana has filed a suit at the High Court in Accra seeking to stop mining operations in areas they say was forest reserves. 

The move forms part of a broader effort aimed at addressing environmental damage caused by illegal mining, commonly known as "galamsey," and the introduction of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).

The suit, initiated by A Rocha Ghana, Nature and Development Foundation, Civic Response, EcoConscious Citizens, Kasa Initiative Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana, and an individual, Ken Ashigbey, the Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, questions the legality of L.I. 2462. 

At a press conference in Accra on Friday, Daryl Bosu, the Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, argued that L.I. 2462 bypassed key legislative protocols, such as the fiscal impact analysis required under the Public Financial Management Act. 

He also pointed out that the regulation contradicts existing laws like the Forests Act of 1927 and the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006, both prohibiting mining in forest reserves.

Mr Bosu stated that this legal challenge comes at a time when the government is struggling to balance resource extraction with environmental protection adding that the expansion of mining activities, especially in ecologically sensitive areas, has sparked public outrage, with illegal mining continuing to destroy forest reserves and pollute water bodies across the country.

The coalition's lawsuit underscores the conflict between economic development and environmental preservation, calling for an immediate halt to the issuance of mining permits in forest reserves. They also urged the government to prioritise sustainable management of Ghana’s natural resources.

Although initiatives like Operation Vanguard and the ban on small-scale mining have been introduced to curb illegal mining activities, the coalition believes the lawsuit will strengthen Ghana's environmental policy through advocacy for greater accountability and enhanced protections for the country’s ecosystem.