The government has laid before Parliament the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025, aimed at reversing existing regulations that allow mining activities in protected forest areas.
The Legislative Instrument (L.I.) seeks to revoke L.I. 2501—which limited the President’s power to approve mining in forest reserves—and fully repeal L.I. 2462, which currently permits such activities. The proposal is expected to mature into law after 21 sitting days.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the move is part of a broader national strategy to combat illegal mining (galamsey). It aligns with ongoing initiatives such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Environmental groups have long criticised L.I. 2462, arguing that it undermines forest protection and grants excessive authority to the Minister or President to approve mining in protected zones. The government says repealing the regulation reinforces its renewed commitment to protecting Ghana’s forests and restoring degraded ecosystems.
