The notice of commencement, signed by the Speaker of Parlia­ment, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on September 30, 2024, said the meeting would com­mence at the Dome of the

 Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), tomorrow, Tuesday, Oc­tober 15, 2024, at 10am.

The meeting at the AICC has become necessary because of the ongoing renovation works ongoing in the Chamber of the Parliament House.

The major issue on the time­table for the meeting would be the presentation of the budget estimates for the first three months of the 2025 fiscal year for approval by the finance minister.

The session would also be expected to be used to revoke the controversial Environmen­tal Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L. I. 2462) which allows for mining in forest reserves.

The demand for the revocation of that Instrument has grown over the weeks as the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, took centre stage of national discourse.

It formed part of organised labour’s demand and has been acceded to by the government. Other items including bills, loans, and resolutions are also expected to be passed and approved.

The meeting could experience low turnouts as has been the case in the previous meeting as MPs who are seeking re-election continue to engage their constit­uents ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The House would be expected to adjourn again after the approval of the budget for members to go and prepare for the elections.

In a related development, the Government has presented to Par­liament an instrument to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Re­vocation) Instrument. L. I. 2462, which regulated mining in forest reserves.

By a letter dated October 10, 2024, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, presented the re­vocation instrument to the Clerk of Parliament to be laid in accor­dance with the Constitution.

In accordance with article 11(7) of the Constitution, the Instru­ment comes into effect after 21 sitting days of Parliament unless same is annulled by the votes of two-thirds of members of Parliament.

It is recalled that organised labour declared to embark on industrial action on October 10, following what it described as the government’s lack of com­mitment to stop illegal mining in forests and water bodies.

But, the organisation suspended its intended action at the eleventh hour.

In a statement released to the media on October 9, the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Joshua Ansah, said organised labour was pleased with government’s enhanced measures and time bound measures in respect of demands by the labour unions to fight illegal mining.

This was after a meeting between government, leaders of organised labour and the Ghana Employers Association on Tues­day, October 8, 2024.

He said the concessions offered by the government was “signifi­cant” to the demands of organ­ised labour.

Mr Ansah said organised labour “will keenly monitor the implementation measures by the government and government will hear from us if it fails to do the needful.”