A Rocha Ghana, with our partners, held a successful two-day public campaign on April 16 and 17 to sensitise the general public to join in the demands to revoke rather than amend Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022, (L.I. 2462).
The campaign, titled “DO GHANA GOOD 2.0”, sought to educate the public about the implications and increase public participation in a petition to revoke the controversial L.I. 2462, which grants mining rights within these critical ecosystems.
The initiative kicked off on Wednesday, April 16, setting up at key locations in Accra, including Madina, 37, and the popular Accra Mall. Volunteers engaged passersby, explaining the dangers of mining in forest reserves, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and negative impacts on local communities. The campaign emphasised the importance of preserving these natural resources for future generations.
The campaign has been in partnership with Wear Ghana, The Coalition
Public Response and Impact
According to Grace Sogbey, Communications Officer at A Rocha Ghana, “The enthusiastic response we received is a testament to the growing awareness among Ghanaians about the importance of protecting our environment.”
“We believe that by uniting our voices, we can influence policy changes that will safeguard our natural heritage,” she added.
On Thursday, the second day of the campaign, we moved to other strategic locations, including Osu, Ministries, Circle, and Ridge. The team mounted the “DO Ghana GOOD 2.0” banner, inviting citizens to add their voices to the cause by signing it. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many people expressing their support for environmental protection and concern over the current law, L.I. 2462.
By the end of the two-day engagement, nearly 1,000 signatures had been collected to complement an active online petition platform that had already gathered 7000 signatures from citizens who are calling on President John Mahama to revoke L.I. 2462. The signatures will be presented in a formal petition aimed at urging the government to reconsider its stance on mining activities in forest reserves.
L.I. 2462 Must be Revoked
Naa Densuah, an activist in the famous #StopGalamseyNow demonstration in 2024, highlights that galamsey not only affects the environment, but it also promotes social vices like child prostitution in some rural communities. She cited recent media reports in the Western Region about an illegal mining community with an alleged 10,000 residents, including foreign nationals.
“People my age have grandchildren; young people will have grandchildren. Now, our water bodies, air, and food chain have been destroyed. Just yesterday, we found a Galamsey community with over 10,000 residents, and that village was characterised by child prostitution. Is that not enough reason we should end Galamsey for the future?” she quizzed.
We at A Rocha Ghana reiterate that, until L.I. 2462 is revoked, no forest reserve in Ghana is safe and therefore makes it is imperative for all Ghanaians to join the campaign.
