GOLD SMUGGLING: GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT 3, PROSECUTE 3 OTHERS UNDER NEW LAW
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is fortifying its stance against gold smuggling, rigorously enforcing the newly promulgated Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
In a press briefing, GoldBod spokesperson Prince Kwame Minkah declared that three foreign nationals apprehended prior to the April 30 deadline for attempted gold smuggling will be summarily deported, whereas another three, intercepted after the law’s enactment, will face stringent prosecution.
Mr. Minkah elucidated that the timing of each arrest dictated the legal repercussions the suspects would encounter.
“They will be repatriated to their country of origin to reunite with their families,” he affirmed, referring to the three Indian nationals detained before the new regulations came into effect.
Conversely, the second group, apprehended in Anyinam subsequent to April 30, will be subject to the full rigor of the law.
“If you’re a foreigner and caught engaging in illicit gold trading, you will be held accountable,” Minkah cautioned, underscoring the draconian penalties stipulated in the new legal regime.
Authorities confiscated an assortment of contraband from the latter group, including gold counting apparatuses and substantial amounts of U.S. currency, which will serve as pivotal evidence in their prosecution.
The Ghana Gold Board Act aims to revitalize the integrity of the gold trade, mitigate smuggling, and ensure that the nation’s natural resources yield tangible benefits for the citizenry.
Undoubtedly, as enforcement intensifies, GoldBod is augmenting its surveillance capabilities and forging stronger alliances with security agencies to preclude future transgressions.
“The regulations are unequivocal,” Minkah emphasized. “Foreigners are henceforth prohibited from participating in our domestic gold trade. There will be no latitude for exceptions moving forward,” he warned, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country’s gold resources.
