 2462, warning that failure to do so could cost the country up to 60% of its forest cover.){kind=link}
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, has renewed calls for the full repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, warning that failure to do so could cost the country up to 60% of its forest cover.
Speaking on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Dr. Ashigbey expressed deep concern over the government’s recent move to only amend parts of the controversial law, rather than delivering on its promise to scrap it entirely.
He pointed out the government’s ability to act swiftly on legislative matters when it aligns with its priorities, citing the repeal of the e-levy law as an example. “This is a president who gave a promise to repeal the e-levy law and not in 100 days — in 82 days he was able to convert that manifesto promise into the budget statement, convert it into a bill, and sign and gazette it in record time,” Dr. Ashigbey said.
The limited amendment to LI 2462, which removes the president’s authority to designate globally significant biodiversity areas for mining, was described by Ashigbey as inadequate and misleading. According to him, this change only protects about 10% of the country’s forests, leaving the vast majority vulnerable.
“If the president went ahead with his promise that he had given us, what he would have been targeting is to save about 60% of the forest,” he stressed.
Dr. Ashigbey argued that Ghana’s rich biodiversity and natural environment are under significant threat due to harmful mining practices, which are often facilitated by weak or damaging regulations like LI 2462. He warned that without bold and decisive action, future generations would suffer the consequences of today’s environmental neglect.
He urged the government to honour its full commitment to repealing the law, rather than opting for what he called “a cosmetic amendment,” and to take real steps to preserve Ghana’s forests, biodiversity, and natural heritage.