ElvisAnokyenews Latest News Portal
The Acting Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Sammy Gyamfi, has assured that once the GoldBod bill is passed, it will equip appointed inspectors with the authority to clamp down on illegal gold smuggling.
Speaking on JoyNews PM Express on Tuesday, March 25 which was monitored by Elvisanokyenews.net, he explained that the lack of enforcement against gold smugglers is due to the absence of a specific agency solely responsible for tackling the issue.
“When was the last time you heard that a gold smuggler has been arrested and his gold has been confiscated? We are not enforcing the law on gold smuggling and we don’t know the agency that is dedicated to the fight against gold smuggling.
“We’ve left it to the normal security agencies but now you’re going to see in this bill special powers giving to the GoldBod such as the right to appoint inspectors.” He stated
The Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025 has already been presented to Parliament, as government seeks to establish the Gold Board to regulate the buying, selling, and export of gold while generating foreign exchange for the country.
According to the government, the board will play a crucial role in formalizing gold trading within the small-scale mining sector, improving traceability, and advancing efforts to secure London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) certification.
Mr. Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that the bill will grant GoldBod inspectors the same authority as police officers. He stated that these inspectors will have the power to conduct searches, request documentation, and, if they have reasonable suspicion, seize gold and shut down illegal operations.
The acting Managing Director of PMMC further stated that the initiative will also establish a task force working in collaboration with national security, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Defence to strengthen enforcement efforts.
” GoldBdod inspectors who have the same powers as police officers who have powers to come to your office if they are under reasonable suspicion that you are dealing in gold illegally they can search, they can ask for documents and if they have cause to believe that you are engaged in illegal gold trading or smuggling they can seize your gold, can impound, they can confiscate, they can go to court for search warrant.
“The GoldBod can maintain a tax force in collaboration with other security agencies and we are going to do that with national security. The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense are all going to be involved. This is going to be special and we know the rules.” He said
He further assured that the new measures will lead to real consequences for gold smugglers, who have largely operated with impunity.
“We know those involved in the smuggling and all that we know, and you trust me, you will see what will happen. Let the bill be passed and let the president assent it. You can’t totally eliminate them but you will see for the first time gold smugglers being arrested, their gold being seized and they being taken to court, prosecuted and some being convicted, and once that is done, once that deterrence is achieved, problem of smuggling will be dealt with.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.net
