Environmental advocate and Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has criticized the Mahama administration’s decision to amend, rather than revoke, Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, calling it a significant departure from campaign promises.
Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on Repealing L.I. 2462 on May 8, Serwah accused the President of backtracking on his 2024 campaign commitment to completely repeal the law, which allows for state-sanctioned mining in forest reserves.
“A Broken Promise”
“The President made it clear during the campaign that L.I. 2462 would be revoked, not amended,” Serwah stated. “This is a breach of trust, and Ghanaians deserve an apology.”
She argued that amending the legislation instead of fully repealing it undermines efforts to protect Ghana’s fragile ecosystems, emphasizing that forest reserves should be off-limits to any form of mining.
A Call for Complete Repeal
Serwah insisted that the only meaningful action is a full repeal of the controversial L.I., followed by the drafting of stronger, more comprehensive environmental protections in collaboration with legal experts and conservationists.
“We don’t need state-sponsored mining in our forest reserves,” she said. “Revoking L.I. 2462 is just the beginning, but it’s a critical first step in restoring public trust and demonstrating genuine commitment to conservation.”
Enforcement Over Empty Promises
The activist also took aim at the broader issue of illegal mining, arguing that stronger enforcement of existing laws is needed rather than superficial policy tweaks.
“Illegal mining is already against the law — what we need is enforcement, not just more political rhetoric,” she said.
As environmental concerns grow amid increasing deforestation and water pollution, Serwah’s comments reflect a deepening frustration among environmental groups over the government’s perceived failure to prioritize sustainable land management.
