Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has issued a sharp rebuke to the government over its failure to revoke Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, describing the delay as a betrayal of public trust and a looming threat to Ghana’s forest reserves.
Speaking at a press conference held at the International Press Centre, Dr. Ashigbey reminded the public that President John Mahama and senior government officials had made a “solemn vow” to repeal the controversial regulation, which permits mining in protected forest areas.
He referenced several public commitments including a May 8, 2025 statement by Prof. Jerry S.Y. Kuma, Special Advisor to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources—reiterating the President’s directive to scrap the legislation in full.
“Despite these assurances, the revocation process has yet to begin, even though Parliament has resumed. To the best of our knowledge, there is no order of business in Parliament capturing this critical item,” Dr. Ashigbey stated.
He accused the government of “deliberately playing games with citizens,” warning that the continued inaction is deeply concerning.
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that civil society’s demand for full revocation of LI 2462 is non-negotiable, emphasizing that the issue transcends politics and touches directly on environmental protection and intergenerational justice.
“This is not about political expediency but about safeguarding Ghana’s forest estates and the ecosystem services they provide for generations to come,” he declared.
He also dismissed any attempt to merely amend the regulation, arguing that such moves would only serve special interests.
“We will not accept an amendment that responds to the interests of certain individuals, ignoring the interests of the nation. LI 2462 must be revoked — and with urgency.”
As the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 nears maturity, Dr. Ashigbey issued a final warning: civil society may return to the courts if the government fails to act.
“That would be most unfortunate,” he said, “especially at a time when Ghanaians are yearning for a genuine reset in governance”.
