Pressure Groups To Hold ‘Prayer Protest’ Against Mining In Forest Reserves

The Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana have announced an upcoming prayer protest to pressure Parliament to pass a law prohibiting mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.

This comes after the Minerals Commission rejected an application for mining at the Kakum National Park by a company known as High Street Ghana Limited.

Ken Ashigbey, the Convener for the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, stated that despite the commission’s rejection, the legislation would prevent future advances from mining companies.

“We are also contemplating a protest where we can rally Ghanaians together. We can make it a prayer protest.

“We will call on the Christian Council, call on the Pentecostal Council, the Catholic Bishops Conference, and the office of the Chief Imam. So as we go on with our protest and march and present our petition, we will do it in a way that is solemn and prayerful,” he said.

The two groups have called on parliament to amend the Forest Act, 1927 (Cap 157) to take away the power of the President that allows him to give permission to mine and drill in forest reserves by issuing an Executive Instrument.

They also demanded the express revocation of the ill-fated forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument (EI 144 of 2022), which purported to revoke the forest reserve status of the Achimota Forest.