Ghana has taken a decisive step against the long-standing issue of gold smuggling by establishing a multi‑agency taskforce spearheaded by the new Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
Inaugurated on July 8, President John Dramani Mahama highlighted that the initiative represents the first coordinated national effort to confront “galamsey” and curb the illicit gold trade. Security officials, including police and military personnel are empowered to make arrests and seize contraband, a move that aligns with the government’s continuing campaign to clean up artisanal gold mining, which has heavily strained the economy and the environment.
The creation of GoldBod earlier this year centralized the nation’s gold regulation and exports. It has already led to a record export volume of 55.7 tonnes, worth approximately $5 billion in the first five months of 2025. As part of the taskforce’s enforcement strategy, informants who provide intel leading to seizures will receive 10% of the recovered gold’s value.
Looking ahead, Ghana plans to implement a nationwide gold traceability system and shift exclusively to exporting refined gold by 2026. It also aims to boost domestic value through the establishment of an ISO-certified assay laboratory and a dedicated gold processing hub.
Despite past taskforce efforts stumbling in enforcement, officials are confident this unified response—with full legal authority, security backing, technological support, and community incentives—is poised to deliver better control over the gold sector