The Government has presented to Parliament an instrument to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument. L. I. 2462, which regulated mining in forest reserves.

The action was among demands made by Organised Labour when it announced plans to embark on a strike over the negative impact of galamsey.

In a letter dated Thursday, October 10 2024, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, presented the revocation instrument to the Clerk of Parliament to be laid in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.

In accordance with article 11(7) of the Constitution, the Instrument comes into effect after 21 sitting days of Parliament unless the votes of two-thirds of members of Parliament annul same.

Following a meeting between Organized Labour and government on Tuesday, 8 October 2024, the President in a letter dated 9 October 2024, and addressed to the leadership of Organised Labour, outlined the various measures to address their concerns on galamsey.

As part of the measures, government announced the suspension of mining in forest reserves. A communique from the presidency indicated that “the President has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), with immediate effect.”