In a dramatic turn of events, the Minority in Parliament has temporarily blocked the laying of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, a critical piece of legislation aimed at curbing the destructive menace of galamsey in Ghana’s forest reserves.
The move has sparked intense debate, with many calling for urgent action to address the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
At the heart of the controversy is the Minority’s claim that the L.I. has not undergone the required pre-laying process, a procedural requirement that they argue must be adhered to.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin on the floor of Parliament insisted that the L.I. must be subjected to a pre-laying process before being formally laid before Parliament.
“We cannot allow the Majority to railroad us into passing legislation without following the proper procedures,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
“The pre-laying process is essential to ensure that the legislation is thoroughly scrutinized and that the concerns of all stakeholders are taken into account.”
However, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga countered that the L.I. is a straightforward, one-clause instrument that has already garnered consensus.
“This was a major promise of President John Dramani Mahama and the government, and today, we are seeing the implementation of a major promise aimed at dealing with the issue of galamsey in our forest reserves,” Mahama Ayariga argued.
Ayariga emphasized that the repeal is a critical step in addressing the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and that further delays would undermine efforts to combat the crisis.
“We are taking away the discretion of the President to grant permission for concessions to be given for mining to take place in forest reserves, and that is what this regulation is all about,” he explained.
Despite the Majority’s assurances, the Minority remained unconvinced, insisting that the pre-laying process must be followed to ensure that the legislation is thoroughly scrutinized.
After extensive deliberations, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled that a pre-laying process of three days must be observed.
The Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament has been directed to review the L.I. and report back to the House by Thursday, March 20.
The temporary blockage of the L.I. has sparked concerns that the fight against galamsey may be delayed.
However, the Minority remains adamant that the pre-laying process must be followed to ensure that the legislation is thoroughly scrutinized.
-BY Issah Olegor
