A coalition of civil society organisations has commended the Government of Ghana and Parliament for the revocation of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, describing the move as a major victory for forest conservation and environmental governance.

In a press release issued in Accra on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the groups said the repeal of the regulation removes a major legal framework that exposed Ghana’s forest reserves including Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas to mining-related threats.

The revocation follows action taken by the Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who on October 31, 2025, laid before Parliament a new Legislative Instrument to annul L.I. 2462.

With Parliament completing the constitutionally required 21 sitting days without objection, the regulation has officially been revoked.

The coalition expressed appreciation to the media and the general public, particularly Ghanaians who supported advocacy efforts and signed petitions calling for the repeal.

According to the groups, collective public action played a critical role in safeguarding Ghana’s forests for future generations.

Civil society organisations described the repeal as one of the most significant legislative reversals in Ghana’s recent environmental history.

They noted that L.I. 2462, introduced in 2022, undermined sustainable forest management efforts and contradicted the Forest Development Master Plan (2016–2036), which seeks to phase out mining in forest reserves by 2036.

The regulation was also said to have weakened Ghana’s commitments under international environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

According to data cited by the coalition, prior to 2022, only two per cent of gazetted production forest areas were opened to mining, with 98 percent fully protected.

However, under L.I. 2462, about 89 percent of forest reserves became exposed to mining activities, placing more than 50 out of 288 forest reserves under severe pressure.

Even after amendments made in 2025, approximately 80 percent of forest reserves remained at risk.

The groups warned that such exposure threatened critical ecosystem services, including clean water sources, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

Despite welcoming the repeal, the coalition cautioned that "Ghana’s forests continue to face serious threats from illegal mining, poaching and illegal logging."

They cited comments by the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission indicating that while conditions have improved compared to last year, significant challenges remain.

The organisations called for "renewed collaboration among government, civil society and development partners to ensure that forest protection goes beyond policy declarations and results in tangible restoration."

Among their recommendations, the groups urged "President John Dramani Mahama to fulfil a commitment to review Act 703 to explicitly prohibit mining in forest reserves."

‘Repeal retrogressive L.I 2462 now’ - CSOs take on government over new mining law

They also called for the development and implementation of a National Forest Protection Strategy and stronger enforcement against illegal activities.

The coalition further stressed the need for effective implementation of the “Tree for Life” programme and restoration of degraded lands outside forest reserves.

They also appealed to government to act on recommendations published by the Forestry Commission on December 15, 2025, particularly regarding capacity building to address emerging threats.

The press release was jointly signed by several organisations, including the Coalition Against Galamsey–Ghana, A Rocha Ghana, Oxfam, Wacam, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Institute of Foresters, among others.



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