The Deputy CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Richard Nunekpeku, has issued a stern warning to the public that the agency will not yield to any political influence or pressure in its fight against illegal gold trading and smuggling activities.
This unwavering stance comes amidst the agency’s recent efforts to curb these illicit practices, which have resulted in the apprehension of 25 individuals in Accra.
“At GoldBod, if you fall foul of the law, we don’t know any party colour, no call from anybody, we will not succumb to any pressure, we’ll continue to do our work within the confines of the law, respect the right of every individual we arrest, give them a fair opportunity to represent themselves and also bring a lawyer of their choice to represent them in court.”
Richard Nunekpeku
Independence and Professionalism
The Deputy CEO further emphasised that the Board will not in any manner release or deal with any suspects, regardless of the source of the call, as it remains committed to discharging its mandate without external interference.
He also added that the Board’s firm commitment to professionalism yielded results as such unnecessary interference is on a significant decline.
“And so far that message had gone down well with everybody and we’ve not been receiving such calls,” Nunekpeku added, reinforcing the agency’s independence in tackling the scourge of illegal gold trading.
Approach to Prosecution
The Ghana Gold Board is working closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure the successful prosecution of offenders involved in illicit gold activities.
Nunekpeku highlighted that the agency will continue to work within the confines of the law, respecting the rights of individuals while providing them with a fair opportunity to defend themselves.
The Ghana Gold Board has been at the forefront of the battle against illegal gold trading and smuggling.
Illegal Gold Trading and Smuggling
In recent operations, the agency, in collaboration with the National Security, has apprehended 25 individuals, including four Indian nationals and several Ghanaians, for engaging in various illicit activities such as smelting, assaying, and trading gold without proper licenses.
The Deputy CEO provided details on the two separate operations that led to these arrests. In the first incident, four Indian nationals and a Ghanaian were caught smelting gold and manufacturing jewelry without a license at a jewelry shop in Dome Kwabenya.
The authorities recovered a significant amount of cash, assorted jewelry, and gold bars from the premises.
In a related development operation, 20 individuals, including seven foreigners and 13 Ghanaians, were also apprehended at the premises of Legend Precious Metal Ltd. located in Akweteyman-Achimota.
During the raid, the team retrieved eight metal bars suspected to be gold, which had been concealed on the premises.
Additionally, a considerable amount of cash in both Ghanaian cedis and US dollars was seized from the suspects.
Collaborative Commitment
The Gold Board’s unwavering commitment to combating illegal gold trading and smuggling is evident in these operations.
By working closely with law enforcement and maintaining their independence, the agency is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate any attempts to circumvent the law, regardless of the perpetrators’ political connections or affiliations.
“The attitude of these individuals are having a toll on the finance of this country, thus the Goldbod is keen on having all suspects interrogated and if found culpable, they will be prosecuted according to the law.”
Richard Nunekpeku
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer’s strong warning underscores the critical importance of these efforts in safeguarding the country’s economy and natural resources.
While the Gold Board continues its fight against illicit gold activities, this assurance of unwavering resolve in the face of political pressure sends a strong signal that the agency is steadfast in its mission to sanitize the gold trading industry and ensure compliance with the law.
This steadfast approach is essential in restoring integrity and transparency to the sector, ultimately benefiting the nation as a whole.
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