Keypoints:
- New security‑backed task force aims to tackle gold smuggling
- Informants earn 10 % reward on recovered gold value
- Plans for traceability, refining and domestic value addition by 2026
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama has launched Ghana’s first national anti‑gold smuggling task force, deploying soldiers and police to stem a tide of illicit gold trading that has cost the nation billions.
Speaking at Tuesday’s inauguration, Mahama emphasised the critical need to safeguard foreign exchange inflows, saying: ‘This is money that would not have come back to Ghana because traders would have taken it and kept the foreign exchange outside.’
Smuggling drains national wealth
Ghana—the top gold producer in Africa—has long been plagued by illegal mining and smuggling, popularly known as ‘galamsey’. Previous efforts to regulate artisanal operations fell short, allowing unregulated extraction to siphon off significant national revenue.
However, the government took a bold step earlier this year with the formation of the Ghana Gold Board—or GoldBod—designed to centralise regulation of gold trading. Since its creation, official exports have soared: 55.7 tonnes valued at roughly $5bn between January and May 2025.
Task force backed by rewards system
The newly formed task force will combine security resources from both the army and police to intercept illegal shipments and clamp down on unlicensed mining activities.
To encourage community cooperation, the government has introduced a reward for whistleblowers: informants who lead to confiscated illegal gold will receive 10 percent of the recovered value. ‘We want Ghanaians to be part of this fight,’ Mahama declared, promising an inclusive effort to curb smuggling.
Building a future of traceability and value
Mahama also outlined a roadmap for modernising Ghana’s gold sector through structural reforms:
- A nationwide gold‑traceability system to track mined gold from source to export;
- Transition to exporting refined gold by 2026;
- Investment in an ISO‑certified assay laboratory to ensure quality standards;
- Development of a gold‑processing and manufacturing hub for domestic value addition.
These initiatives aim to move Ghana beyond simple extraction, creating jobs and boosting foreign exchange reserves by retaining more value within the country.
Democratic reform over nationalisation
Ghana’s approach contrasts with the hardline tactics seen in military‑run West African nations, which have resorted to rewriting mining laws, asset seizures, and forced renegotiations. Instead, democratic states like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are opting for phased reforms, increasing royalties and improving revenue‑sharing agreements.
Global gold gains raise stakes
International gold prices have surged 25 percent year‑to‑date, peaking at $3,500 per ounce in April, according to Reuters data. This global trend intensifies pressure on smuggling networks and heightens the urgency of Ghana’s reforms to secure its share of rising commodity revenues.
Mahama’s launch of the security‑backed task force, coupled with structural reforms and public incentives, marks the most comprehensive effort yet to seal revenue leaks and modernise a sector long burdened by illicit activity.
