Some of Ghana’s leading environmental and civil society organisations have commended the government for the revocation of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, describing the decision as a bold and responsible step towards protecting Ghana’s forest reserves and restoring public confidence in environmental governance.
This comes after the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025, matured into law on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, following its laying in Parliament by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
The move forms part of the government’s renewed efforts towards the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The 17 groups include the Coalition Against Galamsey- Ghana, A Rocha Ghana, Kasa Initiative Ghana, Eco-Conscious Citizens, BRACE, Nature and Development Foundation, WACAM, OXFAM, and the Christian Council of Ghana.
Other groups, such as the Taylor Crabbe, Client Earth, Civic Response, Ghana Institute of Foresters, Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, General Transport, Petroleum, and Chemical Workers’ Union of TUC (Ghana), Peasant Farmers Association, and SDG Civil Society Platform Ghana, all joined in commending the government.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the CEOs of these groups said the repeal of the controversial regulation removes the legal pathway that exposed forest reserves and Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas to mining activities, which posed serious threats to water bodies, wildlife, and livelihoods.
They described the decision as a clear demonstration that the government has listened to the concerns of citizens, experts, and advocacy groups who consistently warned that L.I. 2462 undermined Ghana’s environmental protection framework.
“The revocation of L.I. 2462 is a victory for Ghana’s forests, water resources, and future generations,” the CEOs said, adding that the move reaffirms the government’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible natural resource management.
The CEOs also praised Parliament for allowing the revocation to mature after the mandatory 21 sitting days, as well as the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for responding decisively to public pressure.
According to them, the repeal restores safeguards that had previously restricted mining in forest reserves and protects ecosystems that play a critical role in climate regulation, food security, and rural livelihoods.
They further noted that the decision sends a strong signal to investors and the international community that Ghana is serious about balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
While welcoming the development, the CEOs urged the government to build on the repeal by strengthening enforcement against illegal mining and pursuing permanent legal reforms to safeguard forest reserves from future threats.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working collaboratively with government institutions to ensure the effective protection of Ghana’s natural resources.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
