By Valentia Tetteh
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has laid before Parliament an instrument seeking to revoke Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which empowers the President to grant licences for mining in forest reserves.
The move, according to the Minister, is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen environmental protection and safeguard the country’s forest resources from further degradation.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Friday, October 31, 2025, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving Ghana’s forest reserves. He said the new regulation, titled The Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025, has been laid before Parliament and is expected to mature into law after 21 sitting days.
The instrument seeks to revoke L.I. 2501, which limited the President’s power to authorise mining in forest reserves, and completely repeal L.I. 2462.
The Minister explained that the decision forms part of the government’s renewed fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, the repeal aligns with the broader national strategy to curb illegal mining, which includes initiatives such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and the operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
L.I. 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves, has long faced strong criticism from environmental activists and civil society groups for contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.
Critics argue that the regulation grants excessive power to the President and the Minister to authorise mining in protected areas, thereby weakening safeguards meant to preserve the country’s natural ecosystems.
