Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh is calling for urgent legislation to criminalise ecocide in Ghana, warning that the country can no longer treat environmental destruction as a minor regulatory offence.
Addressing Parliament on Monday, the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP said the issue goes beyond politics and demands immediate legislative attention.
“Honourable Speaker, I rise today with a profound sense of urgency and responsibility — to speak on a matter that transcends partisan politics, economic growth, and short-term development agenda.”
“I speak to the need for legislative action against ecocide — the mass destruction of ecosystems — and for Ghana to align itself with a growing global movement to make environmental devastation a punishable crime both domestically and internationally.”
He explained that ecocide is already recognised in legal discussions globally as a serious environmental offence.
“Ecocide, as defined by an independent expert panel convened by Stop Ecocide International, refers to ‘unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment’.”
“This is not abstract rhetoric; it is a legal concept with measurable criteria — damage that is severe, widespread, or long-term.”
According to him, the concept goes far beyond administrative penalties.
“It goes far beyond regulatory fines or administrative sanctions — it is about criminal accountability for decisions and actions that destroy the very foundation of life and livelihood.”
Mr Annoh-Dompreh noted that while international law recognises crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity, ecocide has not yet been formally recognised as a standalone international crime during peacetime.
“The current legal framework in international law — notably the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court — lists genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.”
“Ecocide is not yet recognised as a standalone international crime during peacetime, even though environmental destruction today causes consequences on par with the gravest human rights abuses.”
He warned that this gap in international law creates room for large-scale environmental destruction with limited criminal liability.
“This absence in international law creates a legal vacuum: corporations, state actors, and individuals can commit ecological destruction — deforestation, industrial pollution, oil spills, and climate-amplifying activities — with limited criminal liability.”
He cited the Niger Delta oil pollution crisis as an example of the scale of ecological damage possible without strong legal consequences.
“The Nigerian Niger Delta, for example, has suffered over 7,000 oil spills from 1970–2000, devastating water, soil, and human health, with full environmental restoration estimated to take decades.”
Mr Annoh-Dompreh noted that several countries have already moved to criminalise ecocide.
“At least 11 countries have already incorporated ecocide into domestic law, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Ecuador, Chile, France and Belgium.”
He said Belgium’s move in 2023 to criminalise ecocide shows growing political will around the world to punish severe environmental harm.
“This is not merely environmental law — it is justice law.”
“Recognising ecocide as a crime embeds a moral framework into our legal system.”
Turning to Ghana, he warned that the country’s ecosystems are under growing pressure from deforestation, illegal mining and water pollution.
“As a country affected by deforestation, illegal mining (galamsey), and water pollution, Ghana’s ecosystems are under severe stress.”
“Recent reports indicate that up to 60% of our water bodies have suffered pollution due to illegal mining — a form of uncontrolled environmental degradation that threatens health, agriculture, and future prosperity.”
He argued that criminalising ecocide would affirm the country’s responsibility to future generations.
“Environmental stability is foundational to food security, human health, and sustained economic development.”
“The consequences of ecological damage are intergenerational — they affect our children, their livelihoods, and their right to a healthy environment.”
Mr Annoh-Dompreh urged Parliament to act quickly on proposals already contained in Ghana’s constitutional reform discussions.
“I commend the government for proposing the creation of a national crime of Ecocide as part of the proposals made by the Constitutional Review Committee.”
“And I urge a swift progression in the creation of national ecocide legislation to protect our economy now and into the future.”
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com