The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has expressed surprise over President John Dramani Mahama’s failure to repeal Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462 and declare a state of emergency in response to illegal mining.
Mr. Ahiagbah said several stakeholders and civil society groups have petitioned the President to act on the controversial law, but no decisive step has been taken so far.
In a social media post on Friday, June 20, he stated that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has worsened since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) returned to power in January 2025.
“I am surprised that President Mahama has refused to heed the loud call from all stakeholders to declare a state of emergency and repeal L.I 2462. Ghana’s forests and water bodies have worsened since President Mahama assumed power,” he said.
The NPP spokesperson further noted, “Perhaps we should not be surprised, given the NDC messaging in the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. President Mahama must act to save our forests and water bodies.”
L.I 2462, which was passed under the previous NPP administration, has been widely criticised for allowing the Minister and the President to approve mining in forest reserves.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) has also petitioned President Mahama and Parliament to repeal the law and impose a total ban on mining in forest reserves.
This follows government’s decision to amend only Regulation 3(2) of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022, instead of repealing the entire law as earlier promised.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, at a press conference on Thursday, urged the President to declare a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas to protect the environment.
