The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines,Ing Kenneth Ashigbey has commended the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod) for instituting strict compliance measures that has contributed to curbing the smuggling of gold,root out main pepertrators (Kingpins ) behind illegal gold trade in the country.
According to Ing. Ashigbey, establishing Goldbod has not only contributed immensely to the stability of the economy but has also ensured a transparent gold trade system.
Speaking on TV3’s news analysis show ‘Key Point’, confirming Goldbod’s CEO, Sammy Gyamfi’s claim that the state agency has instituted robust reforms to sanitize gold trade, Ing. Ashigbey said ” For me, one of the things the Goldbod has been able to do well is to curb smuggling so if they can also help curb the illegal gold from getting into the system, what will happen is that,those people will not have demand and it will kill their business,”
Ing. Ashigbey also praised the state-owned agency for not relenting on its enforcement protocols.
” If you talk about real enforcement,one of the people that has done enforcement in the area that they are,then it is the Goldbod.
In terms of the smugglers, you see the way when they catch anybody they hit them hard ? If also the fight against galamsey we emulate the way the Goldbod goes after the people… and look at them, they are the people catching the kingpins, they catch the big guys so if the same thing they are doing,we could bring also in tightening the loose ends, there are a lot of those people who are into the bush will stop because we won’t buy their gold anymore,” he stated
The Ghana Gold Board since its establishment has been resolute in fighting smuggling of gold.
The latest fight embarked upon involved the arrest of 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).
During the operation, the Taskforce also discovered gold refining equipment in the possession of the American suspect, confirming their intent to refine gold illegally within Ghana’s jurisdiction.
