By Magdalene Andoh
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has reiterated the institution’s commitment to combating illegal mining and promoting sustainable practices in Ghana’s gold sector.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme, Mr Gyamfi said environmental protection is central to GoldBod’s mandate, adding that the agency is taking concrete steps to enforce regulations.
“When we took over, there was no real fight against illegal mining. We did not maintain the status quo,” he said, highlighting measures already put in place.
Mr Gyamfi noted that Legislative Instruments 23 and 24, which previously permitted certain mining activities in protected areas, have been revoked.
“Mining is no longer permissible in forest reserves, and NAIMOS is actively cracking down on illegal miners everywhere. You have seen the videos,” he added.
He said GoldBod has institutionalised environmental protection by making it illegal to purchase gold sourced from unauthorised mining activities. Under Section 59 of the GoldBod Act, he explained, buying gold from illegal operations constitutes an offence.
The CEO also addressed criticism over the pace of implementing traceability measures. While Ghana has a long history of gold procurement dating back to the colonial era, he described the introduction of a national traceability programme as a landmark reform.
“We have given timelines for the traceability programme to be fully operational. Every gram of gold bought by the state will be traceable to its mine of origin, and it must come from a sustainable mine,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi acknowledged the challenges posed by decades of unregulated gold trading and smuggling, which he said have undermined both the environment and the national economy.
“We are an institution barely eight months old, yet we are introducing reforms to ensure the gold trade is traceable, regulated and environmentally responsible. It is unfair to expect such a system to have existed overnight when previous administrations did not implement it,” he added.
Highlighting the broader environmental impact of illegal mining, Mr Gyamfi pointed to damage caused to forests, water bodies and farmlands.
He stressed that tackling illegal mining goes beyond law enforcement and is also about protecting communities and preserving natural resources for future generations.
“This is a government that set up an institution like GoldBod specifically to promote traceability and sustainable practices in gold procurement,” he said.
“Our approach balances economic benefits with environmental responsibility, ensuring that Ghana’s gold sector contributes to development without compromising our natural heritage,” Mr Gyamfi added.
