The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has described the repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 as one of the major achievements of the late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed during his tenure as Environment Minister.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony held at the Ministry to mark one year since the death of Dr Muhammed, Mr Armah Buah said the late minister’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources continues to shape government’s environmental policies.
He noted that the repeal of LI 2462, which allowed mining in forest reserves under certain conditions, represented a major step towards strengthening environmental protection.
“He is the one that spearheaded the repeal of LI 2462. And today, our forests are breathing again because of Honourable Murtala. We can clap for him,” Mr Armah Buah said.
The ceremony brought together family members, friends, colleagues and government officials to honour Dr Muhammed and the seven others who died in the Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025.
Mr Armah Buah said Dr Muhammed’s contribution to environmental sustainability went beyond the repeal of LI 2462.
He recalled that the late minister hosted the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) High-Level Meeting in 2025, which resulted in the Accra Declaration.
He also highlighted Dr Muhammed’s establishment of the Biannual Environment, Science and Technology Forum, which brought together researchers, innovators and industry players to promote solutions to national challenges.
“He wanted to make sure that research work was not an isolated issue, that it was practical, that the things people were researching into were really connected with the people of Ghana and that we could use them to transform our lives,” he said.
Mr Armah Buah added that the forum has since become a permanent feature on the ministry’s calendar due to its importance.
He also credited Dr Muhammed with laying the foundation for Ghana’s Blue Economy Strategy and launching the One Child, One Tree campaign aimed at encouraging environmental responsibility among young people.
“He also launched what we call the One Child, One Tree campaign to make sure that we instil environmental responsibility in our children right from an early age and make sure that every child knows the importance of planting trees,” he said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu also paid tribute to Dr Muhammed, describing his death and that of the seven others as a painful loss a year after the tragedy.
“Murtala Mohammed, a year on, our heart is still in ruins. Our heart is still in ruins,” Mr Iddrisu said.
He said Dr Muhammed viewed environmental protection not only as a government duty but also as a moral responsibility.
“For Murtala Mohammed, the protection of the environment, ensuring that our water quality, air quality was good enough, was moral,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu urged Ghanaians to honour the memory of the late minister and the other victims by continuing the fight against illegal mining and protecting the country’s natural resources.
“The best we can do to his memory and the memory of Dr Omane Boamah and all the eight is to preserve and protect the environment, to endeavour to succeed in fighting galamsey in order that we don’t compromise our water bodies, our farmlands and our air quality,” he said.
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was among the eight people who died when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025, while travelling to the launch of the government’s Cooperative Mining Initiative.
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