Parliament to Revoke Controversial L.I. 2462 as Gov’t Intensifies Anti-Galamsey Fight – Attorney General
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has confirmed that Parliament will soon revoke the controversial Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which has been widely criticized for facilitating mining activities in environmentally sensitive areas.
Speaking during President John Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organizations on the galamsey crisis, Dr. Ayine announced that L.I. 2501 will be presented to Parliament on October 14 to formally revoke L.I. 2462.
The Attorney General emphasized that comprehensive legal reforms form the cornerstone of the government’s strategy to combat illegal mining activities across the country.
“In terms of the legal steps, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has underscored the fact that legal and regulatory reform is at the heart of what we are doing in order to change the narrative about illegal mining,” Dr. Ayine stated.
Dr. Ayine highlighted significant flaws in the existing legal structure, noting that current mining laws permit activities in areas that should be protected for environmental reasons.
The Attorney General explained that the existing Minerals and Mining Act allows mining licenses and leases across Ghana’s entire territory, including environmentally sensitive forest reserves.
To address these regulatory gaps, Dr. Ayine revealed that his office is working closely with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to develop stronger environmental protections.
“One of the things we can do is to identify all the forest reserves and put them in a schedule attached to the bill, and make it categorically clear that no licence for mining activity, or lease for the conduct of mining, can be granted in respect of all the forest reserves listed in the statute,” the Attorney General explained.
Providing specific details about the revocation process, Dr. Ayine confirmed that all preparatory work has been completed and outlined a clear timeline for implementation.
“The Minister and I have agreed that on the 14th of October, when Parliament resumes, we will lay that instrument to revoke the famous L.I. 2462,” he announced.
The Attorney General further clarified the procedural timeline, stating: “So, immediately it is laid, within 21 days it matures, and from that time onwards, we will not have L.I. 2462.”
This timeline indicates that the controversial legislative instrument could be effectively eliminated by early November, marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.
