The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced a tougher nationwide crackdown on illegal gold sourcing and smuggling, following a surge in arrests involving both local and foreign traders.

The CEO of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, said the institution is escalating enforcement efforts to sanitize the gold market and protect the country’s mineral revenue.

Mr Gyamfi disclosed that a dedicated Task Force has been deployed across mining regions to ensure strict compliance with national regulations.

“This Task Force is operating with the fierceness and ruthlessness required to clean up the industry,” he said.

He revealed that several individuals arrested in recent operations are already facing prosecution in Ghana’s courts.

According to him, GoldBod will continue to pursue offenders aggressively. *“We are enforcing the law without fear or favour,”* he noted.

The GoldBod CEO stressed that under Ghana’s new legal regime, any attempt to export artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold outside the GoldBod system constitutes smuggling.

“If you’re not buying from a large-scale mine, you must buy only from the GoldBod,” he stated.

Issuing a stern warning, Mr Gyamfi added: “If you fail to do this, the laws of Ghana will surely catch up with you.”