The CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has issued a stern warning to operators of the illicit gold trade, pledging that authorities will pursue and prosecute gold smugglers relentlessly.
Addressing stakeholders at a recent mining summit, Gyamfi declared that the days of illegal gold trading are over and announced plans to strengthen enforcement measures across the supply chain. “We will not rest until every gold smuggler is put behind bars,” he said, stressing the Board’s commitment to ensuring that all gold mined in Ghana is traded and exported legally and that foreign-exchange proceeds are fully repatriated.
As part of the crackdown, Gyamfi revealed that the Gold Board will roll out a nationwide digital traceability system for the gold supply chain and will work closely with national security agencies to operationalize a standing anti-smuggling taskforce. He warned that offenders — including illegal buyers and facilitators — will be prosecuted, not merely deported or fined, as a firm deterrent to would-be offenders.
Gyamfi also emphasized that foreign entities are prohibited from purchasing gold directly on the local market and encouraged legitimate collaboration through licensed aggregators, refineries, or export partnerships. He said the Board is pushing for value addition, aiming to move Ghana from exporting semi-processed dore to refined bullion and to establish credible assay facilities that meet international standards.
Beyond enforcement, Gyamfi highlighted plans to reinvest part of the Board’s trading surplus into environmental restoration, community development projects, and geological research to curb unregulated mining practices. He framed the initiative as both an economic and social imperative: protect the nation’s mineral wealth, increase returns from exports, and uplift mining communities that have suffered the consequences of illicit operations.
The firm stance and promised reforms signal a heightened era of oversight for Ghana’s gold sector — one that aims to clamp down on smuggling, ensure transparency, and secure greater benefits for the country and its communities.
