In a bid to safeguard the country’s revenue and promote transparency in the gold sector, the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod) has held discussions with the Ghana Revenue Authority to develop effective strategies for combating gold smuggling.
This collaborative effort aims to strengthen enforcement, enhance compliance and protect the integrity of Ghana’s gold industry.
As part of the collaboration, they hope to create a more transparent and accountable gold industry that benefits the country.
One of the core mandates of the state-run agency is to prevent gold smuggling which is a major driver of revenue loss to the state.
Chief Executive Officer of Goldbod, Sammy Gyamfi has already made strong statements against gold smuggling, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to eradicating the menace through the establishment of a robust licensing and regulation regime, collaboration with law enforcement agencies, public education among others.
In recent crackdown, the Ghana Gold Board Taskforce arrested an American citizen, Smart Philander; a Moroccan national, Nina Elfseky; and four Ghanaian accomplices — Nana Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Sowa Elisha, Evans Arhin, and Arnold Otutey — for engaging in illegal gold trading in Ghana without a licence.
The arrests took place at the SSNIT Emporium, near Marina Mall in Accra, after weeks of surveillance and intelligence operations by the Taskforce.
The suspects were caught attempting to buy and assay about 2.1 kilograms of gold valued at approximately GH¢2.2 million, without the requisite licence as mandated under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
Also in July this year, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) handed over 17 gold bars, valued at $1.7 million, to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra.
The gold bars were seized by officers of the Upper East Command of the Narcotics Control Commission at the Paga Border Post from two Burkinabe nationals who were attempting to smuggle them out of the country. The two nationals have also been charged with gold offences relating to transportation and dealing in gold.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, assured the management of GoldBod of the Ministry’s continued support and backing for GoldBod’s efforts to manage Ghana’s gold resources.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, expressed gratitude to the Director-General of NACOC for the successful handover and called for continued support and collaboration between various security agencies to enable them to succeed.
