Three Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have introduced a Private Members' Bill aimed at repealing Section 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462) which grants the President authority to issue mining leases for exploration within forest reserves in Ghana.
The Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa submitted the bill in a formal memo to the Clerk of Parliament on Tuesday, October 22.
The MPs argued that as lawmakers, they bear a greater responsibility to ensure the right of Ghanaians to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
They emphasised that their duty includes holding the Executive in check and crafting laws and policies that protect public health, ecosystems, and the environment.