The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns about the ability of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to verify the sources of gold it purchases, warning that weaknesses in the system could allow gold from illegal mining activities to enter the formal market.
The party says the absence of effective traceability mechanisms in the gold-buying process risks undermining efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and protect the country’s environment.
Speaking at a media engagement on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye questioned how GoldBod determines whether gold purchased through its licensed buyers comes from legally authorised mining operations.
He argued that unless the state-owned institution can establish a reliable system for tracing gold from its point of production to the market, illegally mined gold could continue to be absorbed into the formal gold trading chain.
“GoldBod, I can tell you now, is the cause of the environmental destruction we are seeing. They are now responsible for galamsey,” Mr. Boakye alleged.
He challenged GoldBod and the relevant authorities to explain the safeguards in place to prevent illegally mined gold from being purchased through the formal system.
“If GoldBod is not buying galamsey gold, then who is?” he asked, calling for clear answers on the origin and verification of gold purchased by the institution.
Mr. Boakye further claimed that questions about gold sourcing and traceability had been raised by stakeholders in the mining sector, including the Ghana Chamber of Mines and some Members of Parliament.
According to him, repeated assurances that measures were being developed to address concerns over gold traceability have not sufficiently addressed the questions being raised.
The NPP is therefore calling for greater transparency in GoldBod’s operations, particularly the procedures used to verify the source of gold supplied through its licensed buyers.
The party maintains that strengthening traceability within the gold supply chain is critical to preventing proceeds from illegal mining from being legitimised through formal channels.
The allegations come amid continuing concerns over the environmental and economic impact of galamsey, with illegal mining blamed for degradation of land and pollution of water bodies across parts of Ghana.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
