The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced that the government plans to repeal Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves.
This decision comes after an earlier attempt to amend the law faced strong opposition from environmental groups, including A Rocha Ghana and the Media Coalition Against Galamsey.
Speaking at the World Press Freedom Day event in Accra, Kwakye Ofosu emphasized the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.
He described the issue as a national crisis requiring urgent action, likening its impact to terrorism.
“There is some legislative action that is currently going on. On March 20, the Minister for Environment laid the L.I. 2462 in Parliament. The intent originally was to amend it and take away the power of the president to grant licenses in forest reserves,” he said. “But the new thinking is that it should be revoked entirely. So, I have words from the AG that he will push for this once parliament resumes.”
“It is the policy of the government of Ghana that galamsey must be seen as a monumental challenge. So, we treat persons engaged in it the same way we will treat terrorists,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.
“For that reason, for the past months, we have been in office, we have not relented in addressing it” he added.