President John Mahama has stated that since assuming office, his government has not issued any license permitting mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.
Speaking at a media encounter at the Jubilee House on September 10, 2025, he explained that steps are underway to repeal L.I. 2462, which currently allows such mining activities.
“Steps are currently underway to repeal L.I. 2462 to formalize our commitment to end mining in forest reserves. Let me be clear, since my administration resumed office not a single license has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves,” the President said, stressing that the repeal would demonstrate his government’s commitment to protecting the country’s forest reserves.
The Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has written to the Office of the Attorney General requesting the immediate revocation of L.I. 2462 and its amended version, L.I. 2501.
A statement from the Ministry dated August 29, 2025, and signed by Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, disclosed that this legal action is intended to unify and strengthen the regulatory framework in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey.’
The statement further explained that the move seeks to curb environmental devastation that has polluted Ghana’s water bodies and degraded forest reserves, while affirming that the existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regime already provides sufficient guidelines for responsible mining oversight.
L.I. 2462, enacted under the EPA Act, had established conditions for granting licenses and environmental permits within forest reserves but allowed presidential approval for mining in restricted zones under “national interest.”
The regulation was met with widespread backlash from civil society and environmental groups, who argued it worsened ecological destruction.
In October 2024, the then Attorney-General laid before Parliament a new instrument—the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024—to make all mining in forest reserves illegal, a move now reinforced by the President’s latest commitment and ministerial action.
