The Minority in Parliament has raised serious concerns over Ghana’s small-scale gold export operations under the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), warning of significant economic losses and environmental damage.
In an urgent national address titled “The Golden Betrayal (The GoldBod Scandal),” the Minority accused the government of converting a program meant to strengthen Ghana’s reserves into “a pipeline for draining national wealth, destroying rivers, and mortgaging the future of our children.”
The statement comes amid reports suggesting that Ghana could lose up to $300 million in 2025 through GoldBod activities, with IMF data indicating $214 million lost in the first nine months alone.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, representing the Minority, questioned the monopoly granted to Bawa-Rock Ltd., the sole aggregator licensed to purchase artisanal gold for GoldBod.
“Who is Alhaji Bawa of Bawa-Rock Ltd? How did his company become the only aggregator licensed by GoldBod to purchase all artisanal gold directly for GoldBod from suppliers across Ghana? Why was a de-facto monopoly created in an industry where competition ensures fair pricing, transparency, and prevents rent-seeking?” he asked.
The Minority emphasized that the reported losses are not merely accounting figures but have real consequences for public welfare.
“$214 million could have built 12 fully-equipped Agenda-111-scale district hospitals, or 30 modest hospitals, or 40,000–60,000 boreholes, providing clean, safe water to villages, schools, clinics, and farming communities,” they said.
In response, the Minority called for the establishment of a Parliamentary Ad-hoc Investigative Committee with powers to subpoena all contracts, licences, and intermediaries involved, including Bawa-Rock.
They also demanded full transparency from GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana, and accountability for any negligence or corruption.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
