Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has called for the complete repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI 2462), which currently permits mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.
“I have made my personal opinion on the decision to amend the LI on mining and forest reserves. I hold the view that LI should be scrapped. It shouldn’t be amended,” he declared in a passionate interview with Naa Dedei Tettey on Morning Starr.
The lawmaker stressed that no form of mining should be permitted in Ghana’s rivers or protected forests, warning against any political manipulation of environmental policy. “There must be absolutely no mining in river bodies or in forest reserves. There should be no room for any discretion taken by any political appointee,” he said firmly.
Sam George also issued a blunt condemnation of illegal mining, vowing that political affiliations should not shield offenders from the law. “Illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves is a criminal act. I don’t care who is involved in it – whether they are NDC or NPP – deal with them, arrest them, jail them,” he stated.
His strong stance comes amid mounting criticism from environmental advocates and civil society organisations, who have voiced disappointment over the Mahama administration’s decision to amend LI 2462 rather than fulfill its campaign promise to scrap it entirely.
With pressure building from multiple fronts, the debate around Ghana’s mining laws continues to intensify, and Sam George’s remarks have added significant weight to calls for urgent, uncompromising action.
