Civil society groups and environmental advocates have commended the Government of Ghana and Parliament for revoking Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, describing the move as a major step toward protecting the country’s fast-depleting forest reserves.
In a statement issued in Accra on Thursday, the groups said the repeal of L.I. 2462 has removed a regulation that exposed Ghana’s forest reserves, including Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas, to extensive mining risks.
The revocation follows action by the Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who on October 31 laid a new Legislative Instrument before Parliament to annul L.I. 2462. Parliament completed the constitutionally required 21 sitting days without objection, allowing the revocation to take effect.
The groups expressed appreciation to the media for amplifying public concerns over the regulation, as well as to individuals and institutions who supported advocacy efforts, including Ghanaians who signed petitions calling for its repeal.
They described the repeal as one of the most significant legislative reversals in Ghana’s recent environmental history, noting that it restores confidence in efforts to protect the country’s forest estate and aligns Ghana more closely with its environmental commitments.
According to the statement, L.I. 2462, introduced in 2022, weakened sustainable forest management practices and contradicted Ghana’s Forest Development Master Plan (2016–2036), which aims to phase out mining in forest reserves by 2036. The regulation was also said to undermine good forest governance and Ghana’s obligations under international agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Data cited by the groups showed that before 2022, only two percent of gazetted production forest areas were open to mining, with 98 percent protected. Under L.I. 2462, however, about 89 percent of forest reserves became exposed to mining activities, placing more than 50 out of 288 reserves under serious pressure. Even after amendments to the regulation in 2025, about 80 percent of forests were still considered at risk.
The statement stressed that forests play a critical role in protecting water sources, biodiversity, climate regulation and livelihoods, and should therefore remain a top priority for national protection.
While welcoming the repeal, the groups warned that Ghana’s forests continue to face threats from illegal mining, poaching and logging. They cited comments by the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission acknowledging improvements compared to last year, but noting that serious challenges remain.
They called for renewed partnerships and stronger collaboration to ensure forest protection translates into real results on the ground.
Among key recommendations, the groups urged President John Dramani Mahama to fulfil his promise to review Act 703 to explicitly ban mining in forest reserves. They also called for the development of a National Forest Protection Strategy, stronger action against illegal activities in forest areas, and full implementation of the “Tree for Life” programme to ensure meaningful forest restoration.
They further appealed to government to act on recommendations issued by the Forestry Commission on December 15, 2025, particularly those relating to strengthening the Commission’s capacity to address emerging threats to forest sustainability.
The groups said the repeal of L.I. 2462 marks a turning point, but emphasized that sustained action is now required to protect Ghana’s natural heritage for present and future generations.