Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has assured Ghanaians that government will repeal the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 which allows the President to approve mining in forest reserves if deemed to be in the “national interest.”
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues, Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Minister noted that his outfit is currently collaborating with the Attorney-General to revoke the law. He emphasised that a new L.I. 2501 will be put into force which will revoke the amended L.I 2462.
“We have to also reform the laws. We thought that what was so important in it was to basically take out the President’s power to authorize mining in forest reserves but it was obviously the demand that this is not enough and that should go. It is understandable and as a listening government, Attorney-General is working with us closely. I have prepared a new L.I. 2501 which will completely repeal L.I. 2462.
“I mean the 2462 was amended and the argument was that it was not enough so what will happen is that we will completely get rid of that law. We are getting rid of it (L.I.2462),” he told host, Keminni Amanor.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine earlier on October 3 disclosed that government will lay a new Legislative Instrument (L.I) in Parliament intended to to revoke L.I. 2462.
Speaking at the President’s meeting with CSOs on galamsey, Friday, October 3, 2025 the Minister said the new L.I. 2501 which will be laid will have a document of all forest reserves attached to the statutes to declare a ban on mining in such forest reserves.
“Also, we have prepared an Instrument that is L.I. 2501 in my office and that will be laid in office on October 14 when Parliament resumes, we will lay that instrument to revoke the infamous L.I. 2462 so that there will be no basis or whatsoever for anybody to tamper with our forests,” he stated.
He added: “In respect of mining in forest reserves, we will put provision in the bill when enacted that will prohibit mining in forest reserves completely. I have told the Minister (Lands Minister) that one of the things we can do is to identify all the forest reserves, put them in a schedule, attached to the bill and make it categorically clear that no license for mining activities or lease for the conduct of mining can be granted in respect of all the forest reserves attached to the statutes.
“So immediately it is laid within 21 days, it matures and from that time onwards and we will not have L.I. 2462.”
Source:Lovinghananews.com
