The Centre for Mining Research and Policy has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for the resignation of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi over his comments on the formalisation of small-scale mining.
In a press release, the Centre described the demand as “unfounded, baseless and nothing more than political rhetoric that will not wash,” arguing that Mr. Gyamfi’s position had been misinterpreted.
The controversy follows remarks made by Mr. Gyamfi during an engagement jointly organised by the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners and GoldBod. The comments sparked criticism from the Minority, which subsequently called for his resignation.
However, the Centre said the disputed remarks concerned the process of registering and regularising eligible small-scale miners rather than granting permission for illegal mining activities.
According to Dr. Ofori Kodua, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre, the Minority had confused “a pathway into lawful mining with permission to operate illegally.” The Centre maintained that formalisation was necessary to bring eligible operators under regulatory supervision.
It said Mr. Gyamfi had emphasised that miners must obtain the required documentation, permits and certification, as well as undergo appropriate training, before operating legally. It added that he had condemned activities that destroy water bodies, encroach on forest reserves or endanger communities.
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, which jointly organised the engagement, has also defended the context of the remarks. According to the Centre, the association said the circulated excerpt created “a misleading impression” of a discussion focused on registering and regularising eligible operators.
The Centre also cited GoldBod’s reported performance, saying the institution had aggregated and exported 85.4 tonnes of small-scale gold valued at US$11.6 billion between January and October 20, 2026. It argued that the figures demonstrated the importance of strengthening official gold trading channels to maximise the economic benefits of the sector.
On environmental protection, the Centre said GoldBod had supported anti-illegal-mining operations and funded the reclamation of 50 hectares in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. It also highlighted the procurement of a traceability system intended to establish the lawful origin of gold moving through the supply chain.
The Centre further pointed to GoldBod’s engagement with the World Gold Council on formalisation, traceability and responsible processing as evidence of efforts to improve the sector. It acknowledged that the initiatives required effective implementation and scrutiny but argued that they provided grounds for supporting Mr. Gyamfi’s reform agenda.
It called on the Minority to focus its scrutiny on the implementation and outcomes of the reforms rather than demand the GoldBod chief executive’s removal.
The Centre concluded that Mr. Gyamfi should be allowed to continue his work, saying his leadership deserved support to help Ghana derive greater economic value from its gold resources while strengthening environmental accountability.
