In a significant policy shift aimed at curbing the devastating impacts of illegal mining, the Ghanaian government has fully repealed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which had controversially empowered the President to issue mining licenses within the country’s protected forest reserves.
The revocation was spearheaded by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who also serves as Acting Minister for Environment. On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the new Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025, matured into law after being laid before Parliament. This instrument explicitly nullifies L.I. 2462, closing a loophole that had exposed vast swathes of Ghana’s green heritage to exploitation.
L.I. 2462, originally passed in 2022 amid intense debates over resource management, had dramatically expanded mining access. Prior to its enactment, mining was restricted to just about 2% of Ghana’s forest reserves a measure designed to safeguard biodiversity hotspots critical for water security, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitats. However, the instrument opened up more than 80% of these reserves, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists who warned of irreversible deforestation, river pollution, and loss of arable land.
This repeal aligns with the government’s broader campaign against galamsey the pervasive small-scale illegal mining that has ravaged Ghana’s forests and waterways for years. Galamsey operations, often involving toxic mercury and unchecked earth-moving equipment, have poisoned major rivers like the Pra and Ankobra, displaced communities, and accelerated climate vulnerability in one of Africa’s most forested nations.
Speaking exclusively to reporters, Darly Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana an international Christian conservation organization active in the country welcomed the development but urged caution against complacency. “This revocation of L.I. 2462 is a step that Ghanaians can point to as evidence of the government’s commitment to tackling galamsey,” Bosu said. “We only had restrictions on 2% of our forest reserves before 2022, and then this L.I. flung open over 80% to potential destruction. It’s good to see it reversed.”
Yet, Bosu emphasized that the battle is far from won. “We acknowledge this as a positive step, but it doesn’t mean all the pressures our forests face are over,” he cautioned. Revoking L.I. 2462 is necessary, but we need more.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com