L.I. 2462 is a law passed by the Ghana government which grants mining rights within the critical ecosystems of forest reserves. A Rocha Ghana and partners pulled out all the stops for a recent two-day campaign, dubbed ‘DO GHANA GOOD 2.0’. The aim was to educate the public about the implications of L.I. 2462 and encourage signing a petition calling for the revoking of these controversial regulations.
Volunteers explained the dangers of mining in forest reserves, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity and negative impacts on local communities, and emphasised the importance of preserving these natural resources for future generations. Grace Sogbey, Communications Officer at A Rocha Ghana, commented: ‘The enthusiastic response we received is a testament to the growing awareness among Ghanaians about the importance of protecting our environment. We believe that by uniting our voices, we can influence policy changes that will safeguard our natural heritage.’
By the end of the two-day engagement, nearly 1,000 signatures had been collected to complement an active online petition platform with over 7,000 signatures from citizens calling on President John Mahama to revoke L.I. 2462. The signatures will be presented in a formal petition aimed at urging the government to reconsider its stance on mining activities in forest reserves.
It is A Rocha Ghana’s stance that until L.I. 2462 is revoked, no forest reserve in Ghana is safe, making it imperative for all Ghanaians to join the campaign. One small act can have a big impact. More info and photos are on Facebook.
