Prince Minkah, Media Relations Officer at the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), has outlined the core objectives of the newly launched GoldBod Taskforce, emphasizing its role in sanitizing the country’s gold trade.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Wednesday, July 9, Mr. Minkah explained that the taskforce has three primary mandates.
“Their main mandate is to ensure we are deal with illegal gold trading, we deal with illegal gold pricing and we deal with smuggling which the canker that is not benefitting us at all. So these three key main objectives are key. And to ensure their work is closely monitored, we’ll have a proper intelligence unit that is adjoined to them,” he stated.
READ: No licence, no gold: Mahama warns traders and foreigners alike
The taskforce was inaugurated by President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, as part of sweeping reforms under the Gold Board Act (Act 1140), which aims to bring greater oversight and transparency to Ghana’s gold industry.
The Act also dissolved all previous gold trading licenses issued by the now-defunct Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Speaking at the launch, President Mahama described the inauguration as a critical milestone in Ghana’s efforts to protect its natural resources.
The taskforce comprises personnel from national security, the military, and other specialized units.
The President noted that members underwent strict vetting, including polygraph tests, orientation on Act 1140, anti-corruption training, and team-building exercises.
As Mr. Minkah emphasized, “This taskforce is a decisive step toward ensuring Ghana benefits fully from its gold resources.”
According to him, the creation of the taskforce is part of broader efforts to reform the small-scale mining sector, which has long been plagued by smuggling, illegal trade, and lax enforcement.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
