An operation led by the National Security Officials has led to the arrest of six Indians for trading gold illegally. Three of them were arrested at Enyinam in the Eastern Region while the other three at Adiembra in the Ashanti Region.
Thousands of cedis and hundreds of gold bars as well money counting machines were confiscated during the operation.
National Security Coordinator, DCOP Adbul Osman led the operation which happened few days ago.
Addressing the media on May 14, 2025, at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, Media relations officer of the Ghana GoldBod, Prince Minkah said the individuals arrested will face the rigours of the law.
According to Prince Minkah, first batch of foreigners were arrested before the deadline (April 30), hence the individuals arrested will not be prosecuted but go through the legal process of deportation.
However, he noted that the second batch of foreigners arrested will be prosecuted in court.
“But for the latest bust which has occurred, for them they will face the full rigours of the law. Per the arrest and what we got to know, with them were golds, money counting machines and some cedis as well and these things have been confiscated.
“For the second batch, they will go to court and face the law. This is a warning to every foreigner in Ghana, local gold trading is the sole reserve of the GoldBod,” he stated.
National Security Coordinator, DCOP Adbul Osman told journalists that Ghanaians were involved in the illegal gold trading.
According to him, these foreigners used the identities of the Ghanaians to register their companies in order “to evade taxes and hide their faces.”
DCOP Osman assured that the Ghanaians involved will also be dealt with according to law.
The GoldBod in a statement earlier announced that beginning May 1, 2025, all foreigners and individuals have been banned from trading in the local gold market in Ghana.
This means that all other traders in the local gold market cannot deal and be in the gold trading business as the Ghana Goldbod now has the exclusive authority to regulate and control artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
GoldBod stated that any foreigner or individual who wants to continue to be in the trade will have to “apply to the Ghana GoldBod to buy or off-take gold directly from the GoldBod.”
3news