By Grace Zigah
Just two days after the government of Ghana declared a sweeping ban on foreign involvement in the domestic gold trade, a major enforcement action has been carried out in the Western Region, signalling the start of a more aggressive stance against illegal mining and smuggling activities.
On Monday, the GoldBod Taskforce arrested 10 Chinese nationals in Asankragua, a gold-rich area long plagued by illegal mining activities. The arrests were made at a private residence where the suspects were allegedly engaged in unauthorized gold transactions—activities now clearly outlawed under the government’s new directive targeting illicit foreign operations in the precious mineral sector.
The arrest, described by officials as intelligence-led and meticulously planned, yielded significant evidence.
Taskforce operatives seized approximately 1.3 kilograms of processed gold valued at nearly GH₵1.4 million, an equivalent of over $110,000 at current prices.
In addition, more than GH₵1.3 million in cash was confiscated, alongside a pump-action shotgun and a stockpile of casino cards suspected to be linked to a money-laundering syndicate.
Speaking to the media after the operation, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi stressed that the era of leniency and deportation was over for foreign nationals engaged in illegal gold-related activities.
“We mean business, and this time around, you cannot engage in illegal gold trading and smuggling and go scot-free,” he declared.
“There will be no deportation. These individuals will face the full rigors of our laws.”
The latest arrests some in the wake of growing national concern over the long-standing challenges associated with foreign participation—particularly from Chinese nationals—in illegal gold mining and trading in Ghana.
For years, the country has battled the scourge of “galamsey,” or illegal mining, which has devastated the environment and cost the government billions in lost revenue.
Successive administrations have made attempts to curb the menace, but critics say poor enforcement, political interference, and a lack of prosecutorial will have allowed the problem to persist.
President John Mahama’s administration, now six months into office, appears intent on changing that narrative.
In a major policy shift last week, the government announced a blanket ban on foreign individuals and entities involved in the local gold value chain—whether mining, trading, or export.
Gyamfi emphasized that the Asankragua arrests are only the beginning of a broader enforcement campaign.
“The grace period is over. We have given countless warnings. From here on, when you are arrested, there will be prosecution, not deportation,” he warned.
He added that the suspects would be processed for court within 24 hours. “Investigators have been instructed to build a watertight case based on the field evidence.
By tomorrow, they will be arraigned before court. We will pray for a remand to allow for further investigations. We are confident of a favorable outcome.”
