Ghana GoldBod’s crackdown on illegal gold trading has yielded GH¢3,036,990 in cash, alongside foreign currencies, gold, mercury, firearms, and forged documents, according to its 2025 third-quarter report.
The purge targeted unlicensed operators, including foreign nationals from the United States, Morocco, and Burkina Faso, amid concerns about cross-border smuggling. GoldBod is also investigating whether some Tier 2 licensees facilitated illegal trading.
Legal actions are underway in 20 active cases, with suspects either under investigation, granted bail, pending trial, or deported.
The report highlights strong gains in Ghana’s gold sector: 26,153.98 kg of gold aggregated from the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector, valued at US$2.76 billion, and 119.78 kg procured from large-scale miners for the Bank of Ghana’s reserves.
Exports remained robust, with ASM contributing 25,780.60 kg (US$2.71 billion) and LSM 24,911.21 kg (US$2.43 billion).
Regulatory enforcement included processing 577 licences under a new tiered system, issuing two suspensions, and revoking one licence, reflecting GoldBod’s commitment to formalising the sector and promoting responsible mining practices.
