Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has explained why the government reviewed the LI 2462 before laying it before Parliament.
Speaking about the government efforts made to curb illegal mining during a discussion on Joy News’ ‘Newsfile’ on March 22, 2025, the MP for Ellembelle explained that a complete ban on all forms of mining in forest bodies as spelt out by the Legislative Instrument (LI) would interfere with the work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024, will revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462), and make any form of mining in forest reserves illegal.
Responding to claims that the review of the LI smacks of mischief, Armah-Kofi Buah explained that a total ban would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from gaining access to monitor other activities in the forest.
“The amended LI has been laid in Parliament and will duly take effect after 21 days. The LI was reviewed because a total ban, as spelt out by the previous LI, would take away the powers of EPA to enter the forest for monitoring and supervision,” he said.
While assuring that the government may not extend the lease of large-scale miners who are already mining in the forest, he observed that it was necessary to review the LI to allow the EPA to operate fully to ensure sanity in the forests.
“This issue was raised by the Environmental Committee and the EPA. The problem now is that the powers of the EPA to enter forest reserves to monitor concessions that have already been given to large-scale miners hinges on this LI. So, now we must stop all new licenses, but we must continue to monitor what is happening in the forest with the large-scale miners until their leases expire. I don’t believe that we would want to extend any of those leases going forward,” he said.
At a joint press briefing on March 19, 2025, the minister announced a ban on small-scall mining and justified the revocation of the licenses of small-scale mining, stressing that they were granted without due process.
The move aligns with the government’s commitment to fight illegal mining, including stricter controls on excavator imports, a complete ban on the fabrication and importation of floating mining equipment, and other regulatory measures.
The revocation takes retrospective effect hence all licenses for small-scale mining issued after December 7, 2024, becomes null and void.
VPO/AE
Watch the latest episode of Health Focus below
