Gov’t to revoke controversial mining regulation allowing exploration in forest reserves – AG
4th October 2025
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2501 will soon be presented to Parliament to revoke L.I. 2462, a regulation that has faced widespread criticism for permitting mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.
Speaking during President John Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the fight against illegal mining on Friday, October 3, Dr. Ayine said the government’s approach to tackling galamsey is anchored on robust legal and regulatory reforms.
“Legal and regulatory reform is at the heart of our efforts to change the narrative about illegal mining,” he noted, emphasizing that the new measures are intended to strengthen environmental protection and ensure accountability.
Dr. Ayine explained that the existing Minerals and Mining Act currently provides room for licences and leases to be granted across various parts of the country — including forest reserves, territorial waters, and exclusive economic zones.
To address this loophole, he revealed that the government is preparing a new bill that will explicitly prohibit mining activities within forest reserves.
“We can identify all forest reserves and attach them to a schedule in the bill, making it clear that no licence or lease can be granted for mining in those areas,” he said.
He added that embedding such provisions in law would make it politically difficult for future governments to relax environmental protections without parliamentary approval, thereby providing long-term safeguards for Ghana’s natural resources.
Dr. Ayine confirmed that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, has completed work on the new L.I. 2501, which will be laid before Parliament on October 14, when the House reconvenes.
“The Minister and I have agreed that on October 14, we will lay the instrument to revoke L.I. 2462. Once laid, it will mature within 21 days — and from then, L.I. 2462 will cease to exist,” he stated.