We only do business with licensed Small scale miners – Goldbod CEO

The CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Samuel Gyamfi Esq., has dismissed concerns that GoldBod purchases gold from illegal small-scale miners, commonly known as galamseyers.

According to him, GoldBod, the legally authorized body with exclusive rights to trade in gold and other precious minerals, deals only with licensed small-scale miners.

Reacting to claims by IMANI Vice President Kofi Bentil that GoldBod purchases gold from illegal miners, the CEO stated on TV3’s Key Point: “GoldBod doesn’t buy gold from illegal miners. We only deal with licensed small-scale miners.”

Kofi Bentil, a private legal practitioner, had criticized the government over alleged purchases of gold from illegal miners, whom he claimed constitute about 85% of the small-scale mining sector, while the government simultaneously maintains its fight against illegal mining.

For his part, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu agreed with President John Dramani Mahama’s position on the call to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining.

He questioned what a state of emergency would achieve that could not already be addressed under existing laws.

“What is it that we can’t do now, but only a state of emergency will allow us to do? A declaration of a state of emergency is a paper; it is not a magic wand. You will still need the police to enforce it,” he said.

According to him, “Under the law, currently, the Police can help; they are allowed to go and stop the galamseyer, and the President says that after that they [Police] will have a prominent presence in the forest.”

President John Dramani Mahama has said he has been reluctant to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining because existing legal powers have not yet been fully exhausted.

He made the remarks during a media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency,” he explained.

President Mahama stressed that government agencies already have the authority to arrest offenders, seize equipment, and enforce laws protecting Ghana’s forests.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act,” he said.

President Mahama further stated that since assuming office, his government has not issued any licence authorizing mining in the country’s forest reserves.

He disclosed that steps were underway to repeal L.I. 2462, which allows mining in forest reserves.

“Steps are currently underway to repeal L.I. 2462 to formalize our commitment to end mining in forest reserves. Let me be clear, since my administration resumed office not a single licence has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves,” the President stated.

According to the President, the repeal of L.I. 2462 would demonstrate in practice the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s forest reserves.

Meanwhile, the Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has officially written to the Office of the Attorney General seeking the immediate revocation of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 and its amended version, L.I. 2501.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Ministry on August 29, 2025, and signed by Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia.