Ghana’s President John Mahama inaugurates GOLDBOD Task Force to combat illegal gold mining and smuggling

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the GoldBod Task Force, a specialized unit under the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), to combat illegal gold mining and smuggling activities that have long plagued the nation. The task force comprises personnel from the military, national security, and other law enforcement agencies, all of whom have undergone extensive vetting, including polygraph tests and anti-corruption training.

The GoldBod Task Force is equipped with body-worn cameras and GPS-tracked vehicles to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations. President Mahama emphasized that all field operations require written authorization from the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, underscoring the importance of strict oversight.

To encourage public participation in combating illegal activities, the government has introduced a reward system for whistleblowers. Individuals who provide credible information leading to the seizure of gold or cash will receive 10% of the recovered value.

The establishment of the GoldBod Task Force follows the passage of the GoldBod Act in March 2025, which grants the Ghana Gold Board the authority to regulate all aspects of the gold value chain, from exploration and extraction to processing, refining, and marketing. The Act introduces stringent measures to combat illegal mining activities, including increased penalties for offenders and the establishment of specialized task forces to enforce compliance.

These initiatives aim to address the significant economic losses and environmental degradation caused by illegal gold mining, known locally as “galamsey.” The government is also implementing a nationwide gold-traceability system to track the origin of all gold produced in the country, with plans to export refined gold by 2026.

Despite these efforts, experts caution that enforcement remains the central challenge in effectively curbing illegal mining. Security analyst Festus Aboagye noted that while the task force can help, “the challenge, as usual, is not regulation but enforcement.”

The GoldBod Task Force represents a decisive step in Ghana’s commitment to restoring integrity and accountability to its gold sector, aiming to recover billions of dollars lost annually due to illegal mining and smuggling activities.