Dr. Ofori Kodua Endorses Sammy Gyamfi’s GoldBod Formalisation Plan for Artisanal Miners

Dr. Ofori Kodua, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mining Research and Policy, has thrown his weight behind Sammy Gyamfi’s push to formalise eligible artisanal and small-scale miners, describing the GoldBod CEO’s approach as practical and progressive. The endorsement, carried by StarrFM, adds fresh momentum to the debate over how Ghana should tackle its long-standing mining challenges.

Dr. Kodua’s backing of Sammy Gyamfi comes as the country continues to grapple with the devastating effects of illegal mining, including polluted water bodies and degraded farmlands. Rather than pursuing an exclusively enforcement-driven strategy, the research fellow argues that GoldBod’s formalisation model acknowledges the livelihoods dependent on small-scale mining while bringing operators into a regulated and accountable system.

Under Sammy Gyamfi’s leadership, GoldBod has sought to position itself as a central player in Ghana’s gold economy, working to simplify licensing for small-scale miners and improve the traceability of gold exports. Dr. Kodua noted that such reforms could boost national revenue, curb smuggling, and create a more structured environment in which legitimate miners can operate and grow.

The Senior Research Fellow stressed, however, that formalisation will only succeed if it is paired with accessible licensing processes, fair gold pricing, and enforceable environmental standards. He called for close collaboration between GoldBod, district assemblies, traditional authorities, and local mining communities to ensure the policy delivers real benefits rather than remaining a paper exercise.

With Dr. Ofori Kodua’s public endorsement, attention now shifts to whether Sammy Gyamfi and GoldBod can translate this progressive vision into measurable results. For a nation whose economy and environment are so closely tied to mining, the coming months will be decisive, and stakeholders across the sector will be watching closely to see if formalisation truly becomes the game-changer it promises to be.