The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) has issued a strong demand to the government to completely repeal Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which permits mining activities in forest reserves.
In a petition addressed to both the President and Parliament, the Academy condemned the government’s recent decision to amend only Regulation 3(2) of the law, insisting that only a total revocation of the entire LI and the issuance of a firm, binding presidential policy banning all forms of mining in forest reserves would suffice.
“A forest reserve is not a mine-in-waiting,” GAAS stated in its petition, sharply criticising the legislative instrument as a betrayal of the purpose of forest protection and a dangerous departure from Ghana’s environmental obligations.
The Academy warned that allowing any form of mining — including exploration, prospecting, or extraction — in Ghana’s forest reserves is in direct violation of the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other multilateral environmental treaties to which Ghana is a signatory.
GAAS also argued that LI 2462 undermines constitutional principles by giving discretionary powers to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the President—powers which, under the 1992 Constitution, are assigned to the Minerals Commission and Parliament.
They described the regulation as “a legal, environmental, and constitutional failure.”
Forests are not for sale
In what amounted to a moral and ecological plea, the Academy urged the government to act decisively to protect Ghana’s remaining forest cover.
“Let us not be the generation that traded away Ghana’s forests for short-term profits,” the statement read. “Let us be the generation that stood firm and said: our forests are not for sale.”
The Academy expressed grave concern about Ghana’s weak enforcement record in the mining sector, warning that legalising mining in forest reserves would not only accelerate biodiversity loss but also deepen climate-related vulnerabilities and pollute vital water sources.
Permanent ban urged for national interest
GAAS is calling for the immediate termination of all ongoing mining and prospecting activities currently taking place in forest reserves across the country.
The Academy maintains that only a permanent, legally binding ban issued by the President can ensure long-term protection of the nation’s forests.
“Our forests are not just natural spaces,” the Academy emphasized. “They are our last line of defence against climate change, water insecurity, and biodiversity loss. Preserving them is not optional. It is a national duty.”
Next steps await government response
The petition has added momentum to growing calls by civil society groups, environmentalists, and traditional leaders demanding stricter conservation measures.
As public scrutiny over forest degradation intensifies, attention now shifts to how the Presidency and Parliament will respond to GAAS’s forceful intervention.
