THE Ghanaian government has announced plans to repeal its contentious pro-mining legislation, Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, following a series of nationwide protests and the looming threat of a labour strike. The law, introduced in November 2022, permitted mining activities within forest reserves, including critical biodiversity areas, sparking widespread outrage.
LI 2462, which allowed mining leases over approximately 390,000 hectares (964,000 acres) of Ghana’s forests, was met with strong opposition from environmental groups and citizens concerned about the severe ecological damage it could cause. The Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) had previously warned of the extensive harm the directive could inflict on the country’s natural resources.
In early October 2024, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey organised a three-day demonstration to protest against both legal and illegal mining, particularly the small-scale illegal mining known as galamsey, which has escalated into larger illicit operations due to weak enforcement. The situation was dire enough for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to threaten a nationwide shutdown unless the government met three key demands: repealing LI 2462, declaring a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, and enforcing stricter measures to protect forest reserves.
Under mounting pressure, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced that the government would rescind the controversial law, halting all mining activities in forest reserves and protected areas. The president reinforced that water bodies and forests are off-limits for mining, addressing concerns about the extensive pollution of water sources by galamsey operations, which have contaminated rivers with dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.
The Ghana Water Company Limited, the country’s main water utility, had earlier cut supplies to thousands of households due to water source contamination, sparking fears that Ghana may soon need to import drinking water. This environmental crisis added urgency to the public’s demands for stricter control over mining activities.
President Akufo-Addo also revealed plans to bolster ‘Operation Halt,’ a military initiative aimed at combating illegal mining, by deploying naval boats to protect rivers. Additionally, efforts are underway to increase the number of courts dealing with mining-related offences, aiming for quicker and more effective prosecution of illegal miners.
While the decision to repeal LI 2462 has been widely welcomed, some campaigners feel it falls short. Kyei Yamoah, from the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, expressed disappointment with the labour unions for calling off the strike, stating that the government’s response lacked new and concrete measures to tackle the illegal mining crisis. ‘The unions should have stuck together to press home their demands through the nationwide strike,’ Yamoah said, adding that repealing the law alone is not sufficient to address the underlying issues.
The legislation to formally repeal LI 2462 was introduced in parliament on 15 October, marking a significant step in the fight to protect Ghana’s forests and natural resources from the devastating impacts of mining.
