A group calling itself Concerned Citizens of Ghana has petitioned the Attorney-General (AG), the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged irregularities in the operations of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
In the petition shared with Media on Tuesday December 30, the group raised concerns about the alleged involvement of individuals and companies said to be unlicensed and currently under investigation for financial loss to the state in key GoldBod activities, including gold assaying, smelting, pricing, and refinery-related operations.
The petition specifically mentions Mr. Roger Frimpong Kwakye, who is reportedly under investigation in connection with the Mineral Income Investment Fund’s Gold for Forex programme, which ended in 2024. According to the group, intelligence suggests he has been linked to GoldBod operations through Goldstrom Ghana and BAWA-ROCK Limited, despite not being licenced or certified under the GoldBod Act.
The group questioned the legal basis for Mr. Kwakye’s alleged involvement in GoldBod activities, including the organisation of traceability training programmes for license holders and the assaying and smelting of gold through a foreign-owned refinery operating at Kotoka International Airport. They argued that such actions, if confirmed, would violate provisions of the GoldBod Act, which restrict these activities to certified and licensed entities.
The petitioners further expressed concern that Goldstrom, which they claim is foreign-owned, may have been engaged in refinery-related activities without meeting the local ownership and licensing requirements set out in the law. They warned that any deviation from these requirements could undermine national interest, transparency, and state revenue.
The group is calling for an immediate and comprehensive investigation by the Attorney-General, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and EOCO into the alleged roles of the individuals and companies mentioned. They also want any unlicenced persons or entities involved in GoldBod operations to be suspended pending investigations.
In addition, the petition demands full disclosure of all contracts awarded by GoldBod, as well as details of the due diligence processes used in selecting service providers.
The petitioners say they remain ready to cooperate with state institutions and civil society groups to ensure accountability and protect Ghana’s gold value chain from abuse.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
