GoldBod Rejects Edited Video Claims, Defends Policy to Formalise Eligible Miners

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has rejected attempts to portray its policy of transitioning eligible miners into a regulated mining system as an endorsement of illegal mining.

The Board said a selectively edited video was being used to misrepresent its position on efforts to bring eligible miners operating outside the formal system into a framework where their activities can be properly regulated.

According to GoldBod, its policy is intended to promote responsible mining by creating a pathway for eligible operators to enter a formal system, obtain the necessary authorisations and comply with applicable laws and environmental standards.

The Board maintains that efforts to formalise mining activities should not be confused with supporting galamsey, the widely used term for illegal small-scale mining in Ghana.

The distinction is important because mining operations must meet the relevant legal and regulatory requirements before they can be considered authorised. Simply moving an activity into a formalisation programme does not automatically make every mining operation legal.

GoldBod’s position centres on the need to establish a system in which eligible miners can be identified, licensed where required, monitored and held accountable for their operations.

Such an approach is intended to improve oversight and encourage compliance with environmental and operational standards. However, its effectiveness would depend on proper implementation, transparent eligibility criteria and consistent enforcement against operators who continue to violate the law.

Illegal mining remains a major public concern in Ghana because of its impact on water bodies, forest reserves, agricultural land and communities affected by environmental degradation.

The debate over GoldBod’s policy also highlights the challenge of balancing efforts to regulate small-scale mining with the need to protect the environment and prevent unauthorised extraction of minerals.

By rejecting the interpretation of the edited video, GoldBod is seeking to clarify that its stated objective is to transition eligible miners into a regulated framework rather than give illegal operators permission to continue their activities.

The controversy underscores the importance of examining public statements in their full context, particularly when discussions involve sensitive issues such as galamsey.

Ultimately, the success of any formalisation policy will depend on whether it improves compliance, strengthens accountability and helps reduce illegal mining and its environmental consequences.

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