Sammy Gyamfi is the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board
The CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has issued a stern warning that foreigners caught engaging in illegal gold purchasing or smuggling after the April 30 deadline will face prosecution rather than deportation.
He made this known during a presentation by the Ghana Gold Board in Accra.
Gyamfi explained that this new approach is intended to serve as a strong deterrent to help curb the ongoing menace of gold smuggling.
He noted that prior to the deadline, offenders were typically deported, but going forward, the government will pursue full prosecution to secure convictions.
He also highlighted that the Board’s fair and transparent gold pricing system, pegged to global market rates and updated regularly, has contributed significantly to the fight against smuggling.
In addition, the president’s decision to scrap the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold in the 2025 budget, announced in March, has helped eliminate a major incentive for illegal gold trading.
Gyamfi further pointed to the effectiveness of the Board’s aggregation networks in mining communities, which have brought the institution closer to miners and improved gold traceability.
He stressed that strong enforcement and strict punishment are necessary to deter offenders and protect Ghana’s gold sector.
AS/MA
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