'L.I 2462 will be revoked immediately Parliament reconvenes' – Sammy Gyamfi

Sammy Gyamfi is the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). He announced that Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462 will be revoked soon. This law currently allows mining in forest reserves. The revocation will happen when Parliament reconvenes.

Mr. Gyamfi spoke on Channel One TV on Wednesday, April 23. He reiterated former President John Dramani Mahama’s strong stance against illegal mining, known as galamsey.

He explained that the delay in repealing L.I is due to legal consultations. Officials are deciding whether to amend or completely annul it. However, he assured the public that preparations for its revocation are complete.

Mr. Gyamfi mentioned that Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine confirmed a bill is ready. This bill will repeal the controversial regulation once Parliament returns from recess.

He stated, “L.I 2462 will be revoked by the NDC/Mahama government immediately.” There were discussions about amending versus revoking the law. Some feared revoking could create a legal vacuum regarding mining leases in protected areas.

Others argued for a complete repeal of L.I 2462 despite potential gaps in legislation. Mr. Gyamfi believes this law is harmful and should be eliminated entirely. He emphasized that their government listens to these concerns.

In conclusion, he said abolishing this legislation supports sustainable environmental management. It also aims to protect Ghana’s forests from harmful mining practices.