In a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance, the Gold Board Tribunal was officially inaugurated, with the swearing-in of its first leadership by Finance Minister Dr Ato Forson.

The ad-hoc tribunal, established under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025, is tasked with handling appeals related to the decisions of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), including licensing and the Dispute Resolution Committee.

Chairperson Biadala Mortey Akpadzi and two tribunal members—Hamidu Mariam and Justin Pwavra Teriwajah—took oaths of office in a formal order that underscored the tribunal’s role as an independent appellate body with the same binding weight as a High Court judgment. Appeals from the tribunal can progress to the Court of Appeal.

Addressing attendees, Dr Forson emphasised the importance of transparency and due process in the gold sector, noting that the tribunal would play a critical role in balancing regulatory oversight with fair treatment for players in the mining and minerals industry.

He urged the new team to uphold integrity, impartiality, and professional standards as they begin their mandate.

Background and mandate

The Gold Board Tribunal is an ad-hoc, non-permanent body convened as needed to review appeals related to GoldBod decisions, including licensing determinations and matters brought before the Dispute Resolution Committee.

Its composition reflects essential expertise in law and gold industry practice: a chairperson with legal or substantial gold industry experience and two members with relevant expertise in minerals and mining law or commerce.

Key features of the tribunal include

• Purpose: Serve as the appeals body for GoldBod decisions and licensing-related issues.
• Composition: An appointed chairperson and two members, activated on an as-needed basis.
• Function: Provide a fair, transparent review process for affected parties.
• Authority: Tribunal decisions are legally binding and equivalent to High Court judgments, with appellate avenues to the Court of Appeal.
• Establishment: Created by the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025, which also defines the structure and powers.

Names of the inaugural leadership

1. Chairperson: Biadala Mortey Akpadzi
2. Member: Hamidu Mariam
3. Member: Justin Pwavra Teriwajah

Industry observers say the tribunal’s setup aims to streamline dispute resolution in the gold sector while reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to credible and predictable regulatory governance.

The official launch marks a milestone in the modernization of oversight mechanisms for gold licensing and dispute resolution, signaling a move toward standardized, high-quality adjudication in the gold trading sector.