The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has sounded a firm call to action on the escalating threat of illegal gold smuggling, describing it as a grave economic and security risk to the nation.
Speaking at the inauguration of the GoldBod Task Force in Accra, the Minister emphasized the need for a coordinated, unrelenting, and technologically driven national response to stem the tide of illicit gold outflows.
In a sobering address that combined data, urgency, and optimism, the Minister praised the Mahama-led government for establishing the GoldBod – a new institutional mechanism designed to protect Ghana’s gold wealth, enhance traceability, and combat smuggling syndicates that have bled the nation of revenue.
“Gold is not just a national asset. It is the livelihood of countless mining communities, yet illegal smuggling threatens the resource, depriving our nation of revenue and undermining responsible mining practices”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
According to the Minister, Ghana has lost hundreds of millions of dollars annually to unregulated and undocumented gold exports.
A recent report by Swiss Aid, published in June this year, exposed a startling 225-metric-ton discrepancy between Ghana’s recorded gold exports and the gold imports reported by partner countries over the last five years. The value of the missing gold stands at approximately $11 billion.
“What is even more shocking is that 34 metric tons vanished without a trace in 2023 alone – nearly matching the entire annual output of our artisanal miners”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
He described these activities as the work of “highly organized criminal networks,” who exploit systemic loopholes and operate with cross-border efficiency.
“This is not just Ghana’s fight,” he stressed, highlighting that the security threat is not only local but regional and global, calling for a collective, “strategic, intelligence driven, and relentless response” across West Africa and beyond.
Hon. Buah attributed the current momentum to President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership and reiterated that the establishment of the GoldBod Task Force marks a decisive step forward in reclaiming Ghana’s lost gold and lost revenue.
He disclosed that the Ministry is collaborating closely with the Goldbod to introduce measures that ensure full traceability and responsible sourcing across the gold production value chain.
One such measure is the implementation of cooperative mining schemes. These schemes, according to the Minister, will organize small-scale miners into regulated cooperatives, with direct oversight from licensed large-scale mining companies and state institutions.
“The initiative will empower mining communities with fair opportunities and ensure that gold is responsibly processed and fed into the national treasury. This will boost national revenue while safeguarding our environment”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
The Goldbod Task Force is expected to serve as a multi-agency security and regulatory hub, integrating intelligence, mineral traceability, field surveillance, and inter-ministerial collaboration.
In closing the Minister urged the members of the newly inaugurated Goldbod Task Force to embrace their mandate with patriotic zeal and professional integrity.
“To the Goldbod, sovereignty and the future of Ghana’s prosperity rest on your shoulders. Let the knowledge that you are defending Ghana’s wealth fuel your dedication. The Ministry stands firmly with you in this mission”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
As the Mahama administration pushes forward with a renewed national development agenda, the fight against gold smuggling remains a key plank in its strategy to secure domestic resources and restore confidence in Ghana’s mining governance framework.
READ MORE: President Mahama Commits to Maximising Ghana’s Natural Resources
