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A Rocha Ghana, an environmental conservation organization, and six other civil society organisations have filed an application at the High Court in Accra for an interlocutory injunction against the government to halt mining activities in the country’s forest reserves.
The Plaintiffs/Applicants are A Rocha Ghana, Nature and Development Foundation, Civic Response, EcoConscious Citizens, Kasa Initiative Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana, and Ken Ashigbey (Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey).
The defendants are the Speaker of Parliament , the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation , the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) , Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission, and Attorney-General.
In an affidavit in support and the write filed on September 17, 2024, the interlocutory injunction seeks among other things to prevent the issuance of any further permits or licenses under the disputed regulations allowing mining activities in forest reserves, restrain any person or entity holding such licenses from continuing or initiating mining activities in forest reserves and prevent the exercise of presidential powers to approve mining in globally significant biodiversity areas, pending the Court’s final decision.
This legal action, which represents a collective effort by A Rocha Ghana, and others is to save the country’s total of 24 Forest Reserves, including seven globally significant biodiversity areas which either have a mining lease granted within their boundaries, or a mining lease or prospecting licence application awaiting validation.
Some of the reserves such as the Draw River , the plaintiffs contended have multiple applications, furthermore, the Minerals Commission, it alleged was 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, 2022 (L.I 2462), which we believe were laid in Parliament without the mandatory fiscal impact analysis, in violation of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), the Plaintiff argued.
“Furthermore, we contend that the said L.I 2462 is inconsistent with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the Forests Act, 1927 (CAP 157), which expressly prohibit the granting of mineral rights in forest reserves. Additionally, the L.I 2462, is a bad law, contradicts Ghana’s progressive framework for natural resource management for the last 25 years, and it erodes protection for forest reserves in Ghana.
“We are also asking the High Court to grant an interlocutory injunction to halt the issuance of any further permits or licenses under the disputed L.I 2462 regulations allowing mining activities in forest reserves, ”the Applicants /Plaintiffs added.
7 die in accident on Accra-Kumasi Highway
At least seven individuals, comprising five males and two females, lost their lives instantly when the VIP Bus they were travelling in from Tamale to Accra collided with a petrol tanker at Obretema, located near Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi Highway over the weekend.
The VIP bus, bearing registration number GR 7632-24, was involved in an accident at Obretema when it was struck by a fuel tanker with registration number UE 9644-22. The tanker had swerved from its lane coming from the opposite direction at approximately 4:30 am.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the collision caused both vehicles to overturn, resulting in the drivers losing control and the bus ending up in a ditch. Emergency personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service promptly arrived at the scene to assist with the evacuation and recovery of the deceased, whose bodies were subsequently taken to the Suhum government hospital.
The police with the assistance of passersby managed the traffic situation on the stretch and organised towing trucks to help move the mangled vehicles to safety.
Personnel of the National Ambulance Service also assisted in conveying several others who were injured to the same hospital
Assistant Divisional Officer Grade One (ADO), Opare Akonnor, who spoke for the Suhum Fire Service command, said, “We had a call at 12:43 am from the police that there had been an accident involving two vehicles; the tanker and the VIP bus. So, quickly we dispatched our guys to the scene to come and help.”
“We were able to rescue several people but we cannot give the actual number of people we have been able to rescue.”
Meanwhile, the police are calling on the general public to inform relatives who are expecting loved ones who were in transit to come over for identification. Citinews
Police arrests 42 Democracy Hub protesters
BY ANITA NYARKO- YIRENKYI
At least 42 members of the Democracy Hub were apprehended by the police for allegedly participating in various unlawful activities at the 37 inter section in Accra last Sunday.
The identities of the individuals have not been disclosed, but they are currently in custody assisting with ongoing investigations.
According to police reports, the demonstrators had unlawfully gathered at the 37 inter section, where they were reportedly assaulting police officers who were executing their official duties and obstructing traffic.
Additionally, they caused property damage by dismantling police barriers, disturbing public order, unlawfully entering police vehicles to remove ignition keys, and discarding them.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Grace Ansah-Akrofi, provided this information to the media on Sunday.
She stated that the police have initiated a manhunt for other individuals involved, including Oliver Parker Vormawor, one of the protest leaders.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi reaffirmed the commitment of the Police Service to maintain peace, security, and order within the nation.
Earlier on Saturday morning, the demonstrators, who were denied entry to the revolutionary park in front of the Jubilee House, obstructed roads with vehicles and stones, set fires, harassed motorists, verbally abused police and security personnel, and even played football on the streets.
This situation led to significant traffic congestion in the area, adversely affecting commuters and local businesses.
Many commuters were observed disembarking from vehicles to reach their destinations on foot.
The demonstrators were adorned with red bands and carried placards with messages such as “Greed over people, is that leadership?”, “Gold for few, destruction for the many”, “Your greed, our crises”, and “Greed is killing Ghana.”
At the time of this report, a substantial police presence remained at the 37 inter section to ensure peace, order, and the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity.
BY NORMAN COOPER
