Mahama Explains Reluctance to Declare State of Emergency in Galamsey Fight
President John Dramani Mahama has explained that he’s been reluctant to declare a state of emergency in the fight against galamsey, noting that the government hasn’t yet exhausted all other available tools to address the issue.
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed why he hasn’t declared a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking during a media engagement in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President said the government still has powerful tools at its disposal that haven’t been fully used yet.
“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we already have, even without one,” he explained.
According to him, various government agencies already have the authority to take decisive action—such as arresting illegal miners, seizing equipment, and enforcing forest protection laws.
“We already have the power to arrest anyone involved, to confiscate equipment, and to enforce our environmental laws. These laws, especially those protecting our forests, give us more than enough room to act,” he added.
No New Licenses Issued for Mining in Forest Reserves
President Mahama also emphasized that since his administration took office, not a single mining license has been granted for operations within forest reserves.
In a clear policy shift, he announced that the government is now working to repeal Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which previously allowed mining in forest reserves under certain conditions.
“We are taking steps to repeal L.I. 2462 to show our firm commitment to ending mining in our forest reserves. Let me be clear—my administration has not issued a single license to mine in these protected areas,” he stated.
Legal Process Underway to Ban Forest Mining
The Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has already taken steps to revoke L.I. 2462 and its amended version, L.I. 2501.
According to a statement released by the Ministry on August 29, 2025, the Attorney General has been formally requested to take immediate legal action to revoke the controversial legislation.
Signed by Ministry spokesperson Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, the statement explained that repealing these instruments will help unify Ghana’s environmental laws and strengthen the national fight against galamsey.
Why L.I. 2462 Was Controversial
L.I. 2462 was originally created to regulate mining in forest reserves. While it set restrictions—such as banning mining in globally significant biodiversity areas (GSBAs)—it also gave the President power to override these bans in the “national interest.”
This loophole triggered widespread backlash from civil society groups and environmental advocates, who argued the law opened the door to greater environmental damage and failed to adequately protect forest reserves.
In October 2024, the Attorney General laid a new legislative instrument in Parliament—the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024—aimed at completely outlawing mining in forest reserves.
A Shift Toward Sustainable Mining
Government officials believe the existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations already provide a strong foundation for monitoring and controlling mining activities.
The repeal of L.I. 2462 is expected to reinforce these rules and ensure better environmental protection.
It also complements on-the-ground initiatives like the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS)—both of which aim to promote sustainable and legal mining practices.
