The suspects
Three out of six foreign nationals arrested for allegedly smuggling gold in the country will be deported, while the remaining trio will face full prosecution under Ghana’s newly enforced gold trading laws.
The announcement came from Prince Minkah, spokesperson for the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, May 14.
According to him, the six suspects were arrested in two separate operations. The first group, apprehended in the Ashanti Region before the April 30 enforcement of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), will be repatriated. All three are Indian nationals.
“They will be repatriated to their home country to reunite with their families,” Minkah confirmed, citing their arrest occurred prior to the legal deadline for foreign nationals to exit the local gold trade.
He, however, indicated that the second group—also made up of three foreign nationals—was arrested in Anyinam in the Eastern Region after the law took effect.
Mr. Minkah said these individuals are now set to face prosecution under the new legislation, which strictly reserves the domestic gold trade for the Ghana Gold Board.
He disclosed that confiscated items from the suspects include gold counting machines and US dollars in cash, now being held as evidence.
“The Ghana Gold Board Act prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in local gold trading. If you’re caught, you will face the law,” Minkah warned, adding that the Board will intensify surveillance efforts to clamp down on future smuggling.
The Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025, was introduced to sanitise the gold sector and curb illegal exports. Foreign traders were given until April 30 to withdraw from the local gold market or face strict sanctions.
The case now marks the first enforcement test of the new law.
By Ernest Kofi Adu