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By Edward Graham Sebbie
The Acting Minister for Environment, Science and technology, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has officially written to the Attoney General’s office requesting the revocation of the Legislative Instrument (L.l) 2462, with immediate effect. This includes the amended version, L.I 2501, of the original regulation.
In a press statement released on Friday August 29, 2025, The legal action, according to the minister is premised on expression of confidence in the existing regulatory framework under the Environmental Protection Agency, which provides robust and sufficient guidelines to oversee all mining activities. The consolidated framework, he noted is potent enough to ensure compliance with environmental and social standards, and guarantee responsible practices across rhe sector.
The decisive legal action, the statement says seeks to unify the regulatory framework and creat a cohesive front for all stakeholders in the national fight against illegal mining. The move also aims to end the severe environmental devastation such as pollution of the country’s water bodies and degradation of forest reserves.
L.I 2462, was enacted in 2022, by the Nana Addo-led NPP administration allowing mining in forest reserves including ecologically sebsitive ones with certain stipulated conditions. The situation presently is worsing leading Ghana to this environmentally sorry state prompting individuals, civil society organisations and environmental watchers to call for the revocation of the L.I.
Since coming into being, cases of babies being born with deformities as well as kidney and lung complications have been on the ascendancy due to the intake of heavy metals such as Mercury, Cyanide etc.
The call for the revocation of the L.I has intensified following the tragic death of eight individuals including ministers of state and military personnel who were attending a function on the subject matter.
This release obviously comes as a refreshing news for Ghanaian since they will see it as some progress in the fight against galamsey.
