The Media Relations Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD), Prince Kwame Minkah, has warned Ghanaians who front for foreign nationals engaged in gold smuggling, stating that such individuals will be dealt with under Ghanaian law.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews, Mr Minkah noted that the government is intensifying its crackdown on both local collaborators and foreign perpetrators who exploit loopholes in the gold sector.
“If you’re a Ghanaian caught fronting for a foreigner, the laws of Ghana will deal with you,” he stated firmly.
His remarks come in the wake of recent arrests involving foreign nationals engaged in gold smuggling operations. Mr Minkah confirmed that several Indian nationals were apprehended by Ghana’s security and intelligence agencies and are currently facing court proceedings.
“These individuals were involved in gold smuggling, and investigations revealed that a Ghanaian national was fronting for their illegal activities. The details are still emerging, but what we can confirm is that the law will take its full course,” he explained.
Mr Minkah highlighted the broader issue of foreign involvement in gold smuggling and the systemic abuse that has plagued the sector for years. He noted that many foreigners exploit Ghanaian license holders as fronts to carry out illegal operations under the guise of legitimate mining.
He pointed out that this long-standing problem is precisely what the Ghana Gold Board has been mandated to address.
“That is exactly what the Gold Board initiative is seeking to cure. It’s a deeply rooted issue that has persisted for years, and our legal and operational framework is specifically designed to eliminate it,” he said.
Mr Minkah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cleaning up the sector and ensuring that Ghanaians genuinely benefit from the country’s mineral resources without being undermined by foreign influence or internal collaborators.
“We have the solutions, and we are implementing them. This is a national interest issue, and anyone found complicit will not be spared—local or foreign,” he added.
Source: Joy News
