President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the GoldBod taskforce with a firm commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations.

He announced a series of strict oversight measures aimed at ensuring professionalism and public trust.

Speaking at the launch event in Accra on Tuesday, July 8, President Mahama stressed that the task force, established to tackle illegal gold trading and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources, will operate under the highest standards of operational integrity.

“Every member of the task force will operate under strict oversight,” he declared. “All officers will wear body cameras in every operation they undertake, and the vehicles used by the taskforce will be GPS tracked and monitored in real-time.”

In addition to these surveillance and monitoring provisions, President Mahama introduced a procedural requirement to further enhance accountability.

“A written warrant from the CEO is required before any field operation is undertaken,” he stated, adding that the move is designed to prevent arbitrary action and promote disciplined enforcement.

The GoldBod Taskforce has been tasked with confronting illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey, which has caused significant environmental damage, particularly to rivers and forested areas.

The initiative is also expected to improve the recovery of lost mineral revenue and ensure greater benefits for the state and its citizens.

The GoldBod Taskforce is set to commence field operations within the coming weeks.