CSOs applaud government for revoking L.I. 2462
A coalition of civil society organizations has praised the government and parliament for revoking Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which had allowed mining activities in Ghana's forest reserves. This decision marks a significant step towards safeguarding Ghana's forests for present and future generations.
The coalition's statement highlights the potential ecological and environmental risks associated with mining in these sensitive areas. They emphasize the importance of protecting forest reserves, including ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich zones, from exploitation.
The revocation of L.I. 2462 is a result of parliamentary action, led by the Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The new Legislative Instrument, presented on October 31, aimed to annul L.I. 2462, and Parliament completed the required 21 sitting days without objection, effectively revoking the regulation.
Before 2022, only about 2% of gazetted production forest areas were open to mining, while 98% remained protected. However, L.I. 2462 exposed approximately 89% of forest reserves to mining, putting over 50 of the country's 288 reserves under serious pressure. Despite amendments in 2025, about 80% of forest reserves remained at risk.
The coalition argues that L.I. 2462 conflicted with the Forest Development Master Plan (2016-2036), which aims to phase out mining in forest reserves by 2036. It also weakened Ghana's alignment with international environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Despite the repeal, the coalition urges the government to take further action. They recommend reviewing mining laws to explicitly prohibit mining in forest reserves, developing a National Forest Protection Strategy, and enhancing the capacity of the Forestry Commission to address illegal activities. They also call for the effective implementation of the 'Tree for Life' program and the restoration of degraded lands affected by mining.
The statement is signed by various civil society organizations and environmental advocates, including the Coalition Against Galamsey–Ghana, A Rocha Ghana, Kasa Initiative Ghana, and more. The coalition remains committed to engaging with government institutions to ensure the protection and sustainable management of Ghana's forests.
