Forest Mining Law Must Go – Tony Aubynn Demands Total Repeal of LI 2462
Petroleum Hub CEO urges lawmakers to replace forest mining regulation with stronger environmental protections.
- Tony Aubynn calls for a full repeal of LI 2462
- The law currently permits mining in forest reserves
- He urges the creation of a new, stricter legal framework
Dr. Anthony Aubynn, CEO of the Petroleum Hub Corporation, is urging a full repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which governs mining in forest reserves in Ghana.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Aubynn emphasized the need for a new legal framework that better protects the environment and responsibly regulates small-scale mining.
While acknowledging the ongoing efforts of the current government in addressing illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—Dr. Aubynn cautioned against premature judgments. “Four months is too brief a time to evaluate the success or failure of any administration in dealing with such a long-standing issue,” he said.
He criticized LI 2462 for granting the Minister the power to approve mining activities in forest reserves, a provision he believes undermines environmental protection. “The real danger lies in how the law permits mining in forests, something previous policies made intentionally difficult,” he stated.
According to Dr. Aubynn, older regulations did not outright ban mining in protected forests but made it a rigorous and limited process. In contrast, LI 2462 opens the door too widely, potentially putting sensitive ecosystems at greater risk.
LI 2462, formally known as the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, was enacted in November 2022.
