The passage of the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which seeks to revoke the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves was stalled on Tuesday after a heated debate.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, was ready to present the L.I. on the Floor of the House, could not do so because of the disagreement from the two Sides of the House.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus insisted on the instrument to be pre-laid before its formal introduction.
Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader, emphasised the importance of adhering to Parliamentary procedures to ensure proper scrutiny.
“Mr. Speaker I shall pray you to place the application on ice for now and rather direct that the Minister goes through what has become a pre-laying ritual so that after that the laying is done,” he stated.
Commenting on the subject, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, a former Lands and Natural Resources Minister backed Mr. Afenyo-Markin, highlighting the need for thorough discussion and interrogation.
He said: “Mr. Speaker, the pre-laying is necessary…As we speak today mining is happening in almost all the forest reserves of this country…It is necessary for us to be able to have a thorough and in-depth interrogation and discussion as to how this can be formulated and presented in a manner which will truly oust the discretion of the president in granting rights for mining to take place.”
In contrast, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader argued that the L.I. there was already a consensus, and that further delays would hinder efforts to address environmental degradation caused by illegal mining popularly called galamsey.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu supported Mr. Ayariga’s stance, describing the galamsey crisis as a national emergency that required immediate action.
After heated discussions, First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, presiding over proceedings ruled that a three-day pre-laying process to be observed.
The Subsidiary Legislation Committee has been directed to review the L.I. and report back to the House by Thursday, March 20.
-GNA
