A Rocha Ghana, a leading environmental organization, has joined forces with six other civil society groups to file a lawsuit against the government. The lawsuit is to challenge illegal mining activities within forest reserves.
According to the group, the passage of LI 2462 in 2022, which permits mining in Ghana’s forest reserves, has resulted in widespread destruction in protected areas and threatens the livelihoods of many Ghanaians.
The includes Kasa Ghana, Eco-Conscious Citizens, Tropenbos, Nature and Development Foundation, Civic Response, and Media Coalition Against Galamsey. These groups say they are deeply concerned about the devastating impact of mining in these protected areas.
Daryl Bossu, Deputy National Director for Arocha, emphasized that the primary objective of the lawsuit is to secure an injunction to halt all mining and prospecting activities in forest reserves.
He was speaking at a press conference held at A Rocha Ghana’s head office in Accra. He explained that the halting of these activities will safeguard the environment.
Daryl Bossu told the media that the group’s suit will challenge the legality of LI 2462.
“The Minerals Commission is still accepting applications to mine in forest reserves as recently as August 2024. Our case challenges the legality of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, LI 2462, which we believe was laid in Parliament without the mandatory physical impact analysis in violation of the Public Financial Management Act.
“This failure to follow due process renders the regulation null and void.”
