NDC government already working hard to end mining in forest reserves — Sammy Gyamfi

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, says the NDC government under President John Mahama is already taking steps to clamp down on mining in forest reserves.

According to him, the government has begun a renewed fight against illegal mining, especially activities taking place within protected forest areas, even ahead of legislative changes.

“The most important thing is that even before the revocation [of LI 2462], government has begun the fight against illegal mining, particularly mining in forest reserves,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV on Wednesday, April 23.

Sammy Gyamfi, who is also the NDC’s National Communications Officer, revealed that Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 — the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 — will soon be repealed to reinforce this commitment.

He explained that although there were initial plans to merely amend the LI by removing the President’s power to grant mining concessions in forest reserves, government has now resolved to scrap it altogether.

He further disclosed that Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has assured him the revocation is ready and will be laid before Parliament as soon as it reconvenes.

“LI 2462 will be revoked by the NDC-Mahama government immediately Parliament resumes,” he said.

The LI, passed in 2022, has faced widespread criticism from civil society groups and environmental activists, with many describing it as a threat to Ghana’s already endangered forest reserves.