GoldBod arrests American, Moroccan and 4 Ghanaians for illegal gold trade

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Taskforce has arrested six people, including an American and a Moroccan national, for engaging in gold trading without a licence, in violation of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

The suspects were picked up together with four Ghanaian nationals.

According to the GoldBod, they were arrested during an operation at the SSNIT Emporium, near Marina Mall in the airport area of Accra .

It said the operation followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by the task force.

According to the Ghana Gold Board, the group attempted to buy about 2.1 kilogrammes of gold, valued at GH¢2.2 million, without authorisation.

It said further checks revealed that refining equipment was found in the possession of the American suspect, indicating plans to refine gold illegally within Ghana.

The suspects have since been arraigned in court on charges, including conspiracy to trade in gold without a licence, illegal gold trading and assaying, and attempting to refine gold without approval. The charges are in line with Sections 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 26(1) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

In a statement, the GoldBod Taskforce said the arrests form part of measures to enforce compliance in the gold trade and safeguard the integrity of the country’s mineral resources.

“These arrests reinforce our zero-tolerance stance on illegal gold operations. Both local and foreign individuals must operate strictly within the law by obtaining the required licences,” the statement said.

The Board also cautioned the public that unlicensed gold trading, assaying, or refining remains a punishable offence, and advised all stakeholders to verify licences before entering into transactions.

Investigations are still ongoing, and authorities say updates will be provided as the case progresses.