Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie has urged Parliament to ensure legislative clarity and continuity as it considers revoking Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, the regulation that provides operational guidelines for mining activities within Ghana’s forest reserves.
The LI, which has been laid before Parliament for revocation, has stirred renewed public debate on the future of mining in ecologically sensitive areas. Ing. Gomashie, however, cautioned that repealing the law without an immediate replacement could create regulatory gaps and confusion in the mining sector.
“A new LI should be laid immediately.
“Because mining in forest reserves can’t be stopped, are you going to stop Newmont, Chirano and others?”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
He explained that LI 2462 has often been misrepresented as a law that allowed mining in forest reserves when, in reality, it merely outlined procedures for regulating existing operations.
“I want to state emphatically that LI 2462 never gave anybody the license to mine in any of the forest reserves.
“It isn’t and wasn’t an instrument that granted licenses for mining in forest reserves.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
According to him, the law served as a regulatory guide for mining companies that already had permits to operate in designated areas, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards.
“LI 2462 was rather a legislative instrument that provided guidelines on how mining which already have been going on in forest reserves (like the Newmonts and Chiranos) and others that will follow should be undertaken.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
Misunderstandings and Political Narratives
Ing. Gomashie lamented that the LI had suffered from political misrepresentation and poor communication.
“On LI 2462, the erstwhile NPP administration failed to communicate properly, the CSOs jumped on it from a point not too informed, and the NDC blew it up with propaganda.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
He explained that the most contentious part of the LI, Regulation 3(2) merely gave the President constitutional authority, under Article 268, to approve mining in certain areas of national interest. “Even with that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo didn’t issue any of such approvals,” he clarified.
The mining consultant maintained that illegal mining, or galamsey, was wrongly blamed on the LI. “Among others, this LI was tagged as the sole cause of illegal mining across the country,” he said. “I will say the LI was not enforced properly.”
Ing. Gomashie pointed out that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), despite criticizing LI 2462 while in opposition, retained and even amended it after assuming office.
He cited Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who once cautioned that revoking the LI could hinder the work of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials.
“The NDC amended the LI 2462 by LI 2501, which entered into force on June 20, 2025.
“They weren’t ready to revoke it, because they now see the document as a good law that must not be revoked as they said in opposition.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
Now, with LI 2462 laid before Parliament for revocation, Ing. Gomashie believes the government is acting under pressure rather than policy conviction.
Charting a Path Forward
Ing. Gomashie proposed that Parliament and policymakers take a comprehensive approach to reform rather than outright repeal.
“The solution to stop mining in forest reserves is to state explicitly in the Mining Act that Ghana abhors mining in the forest reserves.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
He further suggested that useful portions of LI 2462 could be transferred to strengthen the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 1999 (LI 1652). “Government shouldn’t be shy about that,” he said.
According to Ing. Gomashie, addressing the real drivers of illegal mining requires better enforcement, transparency in licensing, and a fairer approach to granting mining concessions.
“We cannot sit aloof and award forest concessions to multinational companies and when Ghanaians acquire same, we get mad.
“Whether party people or not, there should be a clear guideline towards such acquisition, and environmental stewardship should be a great basis.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
He also cautioned that civil society organizations (CSOs) and political actors often oversimplify complex mining issues for public appeal.
“CSOs are mostly not always wise, they can mislead with a narration, and politicians will hang on it for cheap political points, just to be faced with the reality.”
Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie
As Parliament deliberates on the revocation of LI 2462, Ing. Gomashie’s remarks underscore the need for a balanced, informed, and forward-looking approach to Ghana’s mining governance.
He maintains that the regulation, though misunderstood, provided a framework that ensured order in forest-based mining operations.
For him, the real challenge lies not in revoking the law but in crafting a coherent legislative and environmental policy that aligns with both national development goals and ecological preservation.
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