The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has reaffirmed government's commitment to fighting against illegal mining (galamsey) in forest reserves by calling for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462.

According to Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, President John Mahama has instructed his ministers to repeal L.I. 2462, which grants the president the authority to permit mining in forest reserves.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, March 19, Mr Buah highlighted the President’s strong stance on environmental protection, stating that President Mahama has made it clear he does not want such powers.

• Read also: NPP Minority will support Mahama’s wish to repeal L.I. 2462 – Abu Jinapor

"If you want to know the President’s determination and commitment to this fight, it is this repeal of L.I. 2462. When a president summons all his key ministers and tells them, ‘I know I have this power, but I don’t want it—go and repeal the power of the president to have that authority to allow mining in forest reserves,’ that speaks volumes about his dedication to solving a problem. At this point in this crisis, no president needs this power," the minister said.

He stated that President Mahama is committed to leaving behind a “blue water and green Ghana” legacy, ensuring sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.

• Read also: My gov’t will repeal LI 2642 if NPP does not – Mahama

Mr Buah emphasised the importance of hard work, focus, and avoiding political distractions in achieving meaningful results.

"I've always said that when you are so determined, what you have to do is to wake up with a clean conscious, work very hard, and make sure that you are getting the work done daily, and let the result speak for themselves," he stated.

The Lands Minister also warned against politicising environmental policies, stating that previous governments had failed when they sought political cover instead of addressing the real issues.

"If we stay focused, if we stay fearless, if we avoid these political traps - because I was a deputy minority leader, I know exactly what has happened in the last eight years. Anytime a government does not see the problem as what it is, and tries to have political cover, then there's a danger for failure," he cautioned.

• Read also: Repealing L.I. 2462 won’t prevent mining in forest reserves – Abu Jinapor cautions

Mr Buah added that the repeal of L.I. 2462 will mark a significant shift in Ghana’s approach to natural resource management, aligning with President Mahama’s vision for long-term environmental sustainability.