Repeal of L.I. 2462 will not pose a threat to Ghana's forests - A Rocha replies EPA Director

Environmental NGO, A Rocha Ghana, has described as unfounded the claim that the repeal of L.I. 2462 could lead to widespread mining activities in forest reserves.

It comes after the Director of the Mining Department at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael Sandow Ali, raised concerns over the proposed move to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462).

He cautioned that repealing the regulation without introducing a stronger, more comprehensive law could lead to widespread, unregulated mining activities in forest reserves.

He warned that, if the law is repealed, there would be anarchy in the forest reserves, stressing that, the L.I. would make it difficult to regulate companies already engaged in mining within forest reserves.

Reacting to the comment in a statement signed by the Director of A Rocha Ghana, Dr Seth Appiah Kubi, and copied to ghenvironment.com in Accra, he described the caution about the potential regulatory vacuum as unfounded.

The statement said, the risk to forests exists with or without L.I. 2462, and evidence clearly shows that the L.I. has exacerbated these risks. “By opening forests to large-scale mining, complete with tracks and machinery, L.I. 2462 has indirectly invited a surge in illegal mining activities. Retaining this legislation poses severe threats to Ghana’s forests, biodiversity, and communities", the statement said.

It said, the claim that repealing L.I. 2462 without a robust replacement risks regulatory gaps is a misrepresentation.

It said, the reality is that forest risks existed before the L.I., but its implementation has worsened the situation by enabling large-scale mining and increased forest access.

According to the statement, Unlike the 2018 Environmental Guidelines, which limited mining to 2% of production forest reserves, L.I. 2462 removes this restriction, paving the way for expansive mining with minimal oversight.

“This weakens existing protections and undermines sustainable forest management, highlighting the urgent need to repeal L.I. 2462 and adopt stronger, more effective regulations. The evidence is there to show that, Ghana’s forests received better protection from mining before the L.I 2462 was passed”, it said.