Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and Chief Executive Officer of
The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, has lambasted the government for its continued failure to revoke Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, describing the delay as a betrayal of public trust and a threat to Ghana’s forest reserves.
Addressing a press conference on June 19, 2025, Dr Ashigbey reminded the public that President John Dramani Mahama and senior officials had repeatedly assured Ghanaians that the controversial regulation, which permits mining in protected forest areas, would be scrapped.
“This was communicated through several public declarations by His Excellency the President himself, both before and after the 2024 elections,” Dr Ashigbey stated.
He disclosed that on May 8, 2025, the President’s Special Advisor on Lands and Natural Resources, Prof. Jerry S.Y. Kuma, publicly confirmed that the President had instructed a full revocation of the L.I.
However, Dr Ashigbey expressed frustration that no concrete steps have been taken in Parliament to implement the revocation.
“To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no order of business in Parliament reflecting this crucial item,” he said.
He accused the government of “deliberately playing games” with the Ghanaian people, warning that the continued silence on the matter could no longer be tolerated.
“Our demand for the revocation of L.I. 2462 still stands. This is not about politics, it’s about protecting Ghana’s forest reserves and the vital ecosystem services they provide,” Dr Ashigbey emphasised.
He further warned that any attempt by the government to amend, rather than fully revoke, the legislation would be strongly resisted.
“We will not accept an amendment crafted to satisfy the interests of a few individuals while ignoring the national interest. L.I. 2462 must be revoked, and with urgency,” he insisted.
With the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Amendment Regulations, 2025 set to mature soon, Dr Ashigbey cautioned that if the government fails to act, citizens will have no choice but to pursue further legal action.
“That would be most unfortunate, especially at a time when Ghanaians are yearning for a genuine reset in governance,” he concluded.
MRA/MA
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