Ghana cracks down on gold smuggling with new multi-agency task force
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Ghanaian soldiers and officers prepare to deploy in mining areas after President Mahama launches a new task force to combat gold smuggling and illegal mining.
Ghana Launches Multi-Agency Task Force to Combat Gold Smuggling and Illegal Mining
In a bold move to address one of Ghana’s most pressing economic and environmental crises, President John Mahama on Tuesday officially launched a special multi-agency task force aimed at dismantling the networks behind illegal gold mining and smuggling.
Known locally as galamsey, illegal gold mining has long plagued Ghana—Africa’s largest gold producer—causing severe environmental degradation, draining state revenue, and triggering civil unrest. President Mahama’s announcement comes as part of a larger national campaign to restore order to the small-scale mining sector, protect Ghana’s natural resources, and recover lost earnings.
“Inaugurating the GOLDBOD Task Force today signals our readiness to act decisively,” Mahama declared at the launch event in Accra. “Let this serve as a warning to all those involved in gold smuggling and illegal trade: the law will be enforced without fear or favour.”
A Coordinated Effort for Accountability and Enforcement
The GOLDBOD Task Force will be composed of personnel from various security agencies, including the police, military, and national intelligence. They will be armed with full legal authority to investigate, arrest, and detain individuals and entities involved in illicit gold operations. Crucially, all officers deployed in the field will wear body cameras to ensure accountability and enable real-time monitoring of their activities.
President Mahama emphasized that the crackdown is part of a wider plan to re-establish legal control over Ghana’s small-scale gold mining industry. Earlier this year, the government created the Ghana Gold Board, a centralized agency tasked with overseeing all transactions and exports of gold produced by licensed small-scale mining companies. The Gold Board will work closely with the task force to ensure compliance with the country’s mineral laws and export regulations.
An Economic and Environmental Crisis
Illegal mining has caused Ghana to lose billions in revenue while accelerating environmental devastation. Rivers once used for drinking water and farming have become polluted with mercury and silt, and deforestation has ravaged once-lush areas in the Western and Ashanti regions. Satellite imagery shows the alarming scale of destruction from illegal mining operations, some of which are run by well-funded foreign entities operating under the radar.
With the economy struggling and youth unemployment soaring, many young Ghanaians have turned to illegal mining as a last resort, fueling the underground economy and deepening social instability. This reality turned galamsey into a key campaign issue during last year’s national elections, with voters demanding urgent intervention.
A Promised Crackdown
Mahama, who campaigned on a platform of law enforcement and environmental protection, appears determined to deliver on his promises. “This is not a gimmick,” he told reporters. “We are putting our full weight behind this initiative, and we will not tolerate corruption or complicity within the ranks.”
In addition to enforcement, the president pointed to early economic progress, noting that the Ghana cedi—long battered by inflation and fiscal pressures—has begun to show signs of recovery, which he credits partly to the improved regulation of gold exports.
However, skepticism remains.
Experts Warn of Challenges
Security analyst Festus Aboagye, speaking to The Associated Press, cautioned that the real test of the initiative lies not in the regulations or announcements but in the enforcement. “The task force can help,” he acknowledged. “But the challenge, as usual, is not regulation—it’s enforcement.”
Ghana has launched similar efforts in the past with limited success. Corruption, lack of funding, and political interference have historically undermined crackdowns on illegal mining. Analysts say consistent political will, transparency, and community engagement will be key if this new effort is to succeed.
Still, many Ghanaians remain hopeful that this time, the government’s actions will match its rhetoric.
As the task force begins operations across gold-rich regions, all eyes will be on its ability to restore legality, protect the environment, and put Ghana’s gold sector back on a sustainable path.
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