The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has called on the government to immediately revoke Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, warning that any attempt to amend it instead of repealing it outright would further endanger the country’s forest reserves.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 19, the group expressed deep concern over the government’s continued inaction, despite multiple public assurances that the legal framework permitting mining in forest reserves would be scrapped entirely.
GCAG Convenor Kenneth Ashigbey noted that President John Mahama, along with other top officials, had publicly committed to revoking L.I. 2462, yet the necessary parliamentary processes have yet to commence.
“The government made a solemn vow to the people of Ghana: L.I. 2462, the legal instrument that opened our forest reserves to mining, would be revoked—not amended, but scrapped entirely,” Ashigbey stated.
“This was communicated through several public declarations by His Excellency the President himself, before and after the 2024 elections, and echoed by government officials, including the Minister of State for Government Communications, the Minister of Communications, and the CEO of GoldBod, on April 23, 2025.”
Ashigbey added that despite these assurances, Parliament has yet to list the revocation of L.I. 2462 on its order of business.
L.I. 2462, originally introduced to regulate mining activities in forest reserves, has been widely criticised for enabling illegal mining (galamsey), resulting in widespread environmental degradation, destruction of ecosystems, and contamination of water sources.
GCAG warned that failure to revoke the instrument before the scheduled amendment matures into law would further legitimise destructive practices and undermine Ghana’s environmental sustainability.
“Our demand for the revocation of L.I. 2462 still stands to safeguard Ghana’s forest estates and the ecosystem services they provide for generations to come. We will not accept an amendment that responds to the interests of a few individuals while ignoring the national interest,” the statement read.
“If the President does not act, the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, will mature and come into effect today.”
The Coalition called for urgent executive intervention to revoke the legal instrument entirely, warning that any delay would severely damage the country’s natural heritage and further embolden illegal mining activities.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
