The acting Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, has declared that the company’s newly established task force is the most comprehensively equipped security unit in the country.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme monitored by Kumasimail, Gyamfi outlined the advanced resources and rigorous standards that distinguish the GoldBod task force from any other in Ghana.
Gyamfi emphasized that every member of the GoldBod task force is outfitted with a full suite of modern protective gear, including ballistic helmets, bulletproof vests with ballistic plates, and mandatory body cameras.
He said “I can boast that GoldBod task force is the only task force that all our men are having the full complement of accoutrements of equipment they will need.
“No other task force in the country is as equipped as the GoldBod task force,” he added.
In addition to personal protective equipment, all task force vehicles are fitted with GPS trackers, allowing real-time monitoring from GoldBod’s control room.
“Anywhere they are in Ghana, we know where our vehicles go,” Gyamfi said, stressing the importance of accountability and operational oversight.
Structure and Composition of the Task Force
The task force is composed of three distinct groups, Serving police officers, Active military personnels and Civilians who are national security operatives.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, the initial deployment includes approximately 100 operatives, all of whom have undergone extensive vetting, background checks, and polygraph (lie detector) tests to ensure integrity and professionalism.
The command structure features a general command responsible for field operations, supported by units dedicated to investigation, intelligence, and monitoring.
“This is not a normal task force,” Gyamfi noted, highlighting the multi-layered approach to security and compliance.
He also disclosed that GoldBod’s code of ethics mandates that all field operatives wear body cameras during operations.
“If you remove it, we will sack you,” Gyamfi warned, explaining that the cameras provide live, real-time footage to ensure transparency and prevent misconduct such as unprofessional behavior or unauthorized seizure of assets.
Additionally, the company plans to deploy drones to capture aerial footage of field operations, further enhancing oversight and documentation.
Addressing public concerns, Gyamfi clarified that the task force’s mandate does not include combating illegal mining. Instead, its primary focus is on enforcing compliance within the gold trading sector.
“Are you issuing GoldBod receipts? Are you buying gold at the right price? Are you selling to the right person, the aggregator? Are you keeping proper records?” he asked, outlining the compliance checks that will be led by trained GoldBod inspectors.
He noted that the task force will ensure that all gold traders adhere to the terms and conditions of their licenses under the GoldBod Act and the national licensing regime.
Gyamfi pointed to previous successes achieved with ad hoc national security structures, including 17 operations that resulted in the arrest and deportation of over six Indian nationals and the prosecution of ten Chinese nationals, who are currently in remand custody.
The acting CEO concluded by reiterating the rigorous selection process for task force members, which involved collaboration with national security agencies, character assessments, and comprehensive screening.
“We worked with national security, we choose people with character people with a good record. All of them went through polygraph test (lie detector test) and passed. They went through vetting, screened them, we also looked at their background checks,” he concluded.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo owusu
