New GoldBod taskforce members have undergone lie detector tests to prove trustworthiness – Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that members of the newly inaugurated task force under the Ghana Gold Board have been thoroughly vetted to help restore trust and accountability in the country’s gold trade.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the President said the process was designed to ensure that only disciplined and trustworthy individuals are assigned to enforce the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
“The task force is made up of officers from national security, the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies. They have undergone extensive vetting, polygraph testing, training, and orientation on Act 1140,” Mr Mahama said.
He described the formation of the task force as a clear shift in Ghana’s effort to combat gold smuggling and illegal exports, which he said continue to cost the nation billions in lost revenue.
He cited a report that uncovered a discrepancy of 229 metric tonnes between Ghana’s official export records and those of its trading partners, amounting to over $11.4 billion in losses over five years.
To help curb abuse of power, Mr Mahama announced that every task force member would be issued with a body-worn camera, while all vehicles would be GPS-tracked and monitored in real time. He added that no field operation would take place without a written warrant from the Chief Executive Officer of the Gold Board.
“Abuse of your authority will not be tolerated,” the President cautioned the officers. “Any officer who engages in misconduct will be dismissed, prosecuted, and stripped of all entitlements.”
Mr Mahama also introduced a whistleblower reward scheme under which informants would receive 10 per cent of the value of any gold or cash recovered through credible information.
He said the task force was not just a security measure but part of a broader effort to reform the gold industry and strengthen the economy.
The launch of the taskforce follows the operationalisation of the Ghana Gold Board earlier this year under Act 1140.
The Board has since been tasked with regulating, purchasing, and managing gold exports under a centralised system. According to the President, over 51.5 tonnes of gold have been exported through formal channels between January and May, generating more than $5 billion in revenue for the country.
Mr Mahama said the earnings had helped improve Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and supported the stability of the cedi, but warned that illegal trading and smuggling still persist.
“This assignment is not business as usual,” he said. “It is a matter of national duty and pride.”
