Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has guaranteed Ghanaians that the government will eliminate the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 that gives the President the authority to approve mining in forest reserves if it is deemed to be of national interest.
Speaking on TV3's Hot Issues, Sunday, 12th October 2025, the Minister stated that his ministry is coordinating with the Attorney-General to repeal the law. He declared that a new L.I. 2501 will come into effect which will supersede the amended L.I 2462.
We have to also modify the laws. We felt what was necessary in it was to just take away the President's mandate to license mining in forest reserves but clearly it was that this is not enough and that has to be taken away. It makes sense and as a listening government, Attorney-General is cooperating with us. I have prepared a new L.I. 2501 which will abolish L.I. 2462 entirely.".
"Mean the 2462 was amended and the issue was that it wasn't sufficient so what will happen is that we will just remove that law. We are removing it (L.I.2462)," he told host, Keminni Amanor.
The Justice and Attorney-General Minister, Dr. Dominic Ayine earlier on October 3 announced that government will present to Parliament a new Legislative Instrument (L.I) which seeks to repeal L.I. 2462.
During Friday, October 3, 2025 President's meeting with CSOs on galamsey, the Minister stated that the new L.I. 2501 to be laid will have a document of all forest reserves accompanying the statutes to declare a ban on mining in such forest reserves.
"Also, we have signed an Instrument that is L.I. 2501 in my office and that will be presented in office on October 14 when Parliament resumes back, we shall present that instrument to revoke the notoriety L.I. 2462 so that there will be no basis or whatsoever for any person to tamper with our forests," he added.
He further stated: "In as far as mining in forest reserves is concerned, we will include provision in the bill when enacted which will ban mining in forest reserves outright.". I have informed the Minister (Minister of Lands) that one thing we can do is enumerate all forest reserves, schedule them, attached as an appendix to the bill and make it clearly stated categorically that no mining operation license nor lease for the conduct of mining may be granted in respect of all the attached forest reserves to the laws.
So as soon as it is deposited within 21 days, it matures and from then on and we will not have L.I. 2462.