Ghana Gold Board enforces new gold trade law—three foreigners deported and three others to face prosecution for gold smuggling after April 30 deadline. The Ghana Gold Board Enforces New Law: 6 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Gold Smuggling Crackdown.
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), in partnership with National Security, has deported three Indian nationals and is preparing to prosecute three others for engaging in illegal gold trading activities. This decisive action comes under the newly passed Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), which seeks to regulate and sanitize the country’s gold trade.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, May 14, GoldBod spokesperson Prince Minkah announced that the first group of three foreign nationals—arrested prior to the April 30 compliance deadline—has been deported. However, three others arrested in Anyinam, in the Eastern Region, after the deadline are facing full prosecution under the new law.
“The rules are now clear. Foreign nationals can no longer operate in Ghana’s local gold trading sector. These arrests show we are serious about enforcing this law,” Minkah said.
The Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), which officially took effect on May 1, 2025, grants GoldBod exclusive control over domestic gold trading. The legislation includes a transition window that ended on April 30, allowing foreign operators time to wind down their activities in Ghana’s gold market.
Authorities say the new law aims to curb gold smuggling, promote transparency, and ensure Ghana reaps full value from its natural resources.
During the operation in Anyinam, security officials seized several key items, including gold bars, U.S. dollar cash stacks, and gold-counting machines. These have been taken as evidence and will be presented in court.
The three individuals arrested after April 30 are expected to be charged and arraigned soon.
The Ghana Gold Board is intensifying its enforcement efforts by enhancing surveillance systems and strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies across the country.
“We are taking every step to protect Ghana’s mineral wealth. This is not a one-time crackdown—it’s an ongoing enforcement effort,” Minkah added.
The crackdown on gold smuggling is part of a larger government strategy to regulate the mining sector and reduce illegal activity, which has cost the nation millions in lost revenue over the years. Officials say the Ghana Gold Board Act will help streamline gold trading and ensure that the industry benefits the Ghanaian economy.