Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has clarified that Parliament has not yet received Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, officially titled the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations 2022, which is currently under consideration for revocation.
There has been growing pressure for the repeal of L.I. 2462, with various groups, including Organised Labour, pushing for its removal to aid the national effort to combat environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
In a circular dated October 10, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, stated that the L.I. had been forwarded to Parliament for action and eventual revocation.
But Afenyo-Markin said the L.I. is not before Parliament.
However, he assured that once the instrument is formally presented, Parliament will give it the necessary attention as part of ongoing measures to address illegal mining and protect the country’s natural resources.
“I am still learning whether the subsidiary law will require any action by Parliament when it is being revoked. The law is always evolving, so I am researching whether it will come as an executive instrument or legislative instrument. But I am certain that if it is brought to Parliament, we will check the proper procedure.
So, if it comes and it involves revocation, we will also look into the procedure and update you accordingly,” he added.
Source: Adomonline