GoldBod Under Fire As Bawumia’s Spokesperson Raises Galamsey Fears

According to a report by Citi FM on Sunday October 25, 2026, Dr Ekua Amoakoh, spokesperson for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has questioned the sources of gold purchased by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), raising concerns about whether all the gold acquired by the state-backed institution comes from legally licensed miners.

Dr Amoakoh argued that the sharp increase in Ghana’s gold exports warrants closer scrutiny, particularly regarding the origins of gold supplied through the small-scale mining sector.

She questioned the effectiveness of the measures in place to ensure that gold purchased by GoldBod is sourced exclusively from authorised mining operations, amid ongoing concerns about illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in Ghana.

“How sure are we that all the gold they are buying is from licensed, legal miners?” she asked.

Her comments raise questions about the processes used to verify the sources of gold entering GoldBod’s purchasing system and the extent to which the institution can guarantee that the precious mineral it acquires comes from legitimate operations.

GoldBod was established to organise and regulate Ghana’s gold trading activities, particularly within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

Its operations are also intended to strengthen the country’s ability to earn foreign exchange from gold exports and improve oversight of the domestic gold trade.

However, Dr Amoakoh’s concerns centre on whether the growth in gold purchases and exports is being matched by adequate monitoring and verification procedures to prevent gold mined illegally from entering the formal supply chain.

The issue is significant because illegal mining remains a major environmental and governance challenge in Ghana. Unauthorised mining activities have been associated with the destruction of forest reserves, pollution of water bodies and degradation of agricultural lands.

If gold extracted through illegal operations finds its way into legitimate trading channels, it could complicate efforts by authorities to combat galamsey and enforce mining regulations.

Dr Amoakoh’s remarks therefore draw attention to the importance of traceability in the gold industry, including the need to establish where purchased gold originates, who mined it and whether the suppliers possess the necessary licences and permits.

Effective verification of gold sources is also important for ensuring that the country’s gold trading system operates transparently and complies with the applicable mining laws and regulations.

The questions raised by the Bawumia spokesperson add to the wider public debate about GoldBod’s operations, the expansion of Ghana’s gold exports and the safeguards needed to ensure that the benefits of the country’s mineral wealth are not undermined by illegal mining.

Her comments, however, represent concerns about the sourcing and verification of GoldBod’s purchases and do not, on their own, establish that the institution has bought illegally mined gold.

The matter places renewed emphasis on the need for clear information about the procedures used to verify suppliers and trace gold from mining sites to the point of purchase and export.

As Ghana continues to rely on gold as a major source of foreign exchange, ensuring that the mineral trade is properly regulated remains central to protecting the country’s natural resources and strengthening confidence in the sector.

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