The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced a GH¢1 million bounty on four fugitives believed to be part of a gold smuggling syndicate linked to Rafmoh Gold Limited and NK Bernak Enterprise.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, said the case was the most elaborate smuggling operation uncovered since the establishment of the state regulator.
He disclosed that the breakthrough followed a tip-off from a whistleblower which led to the arrest of Abdul Razak Seidu at Winneba Junction on August 27, 2025.
According to him, suspect Seidu was found with 9.2 kilograms of gold valued at about GH¢10.2 million.
He indicated that investigations led to the arrest of Bernard Nkrumah, a licensed Tier 2 gold buyer who operates in Tarkwa in the Western Region under the business name NK Bernak Enterprise, and Ibrahim Aremeyaw, a business associate of Rafmoh Gold Limited.
Mr. Gyamfi said the company was identified as the sponsor and mastermind of the syndicate, which had illegally purchased more than 100 kilograms of gold valued at over GH¢100 million in the last two months.
He disclosed that the suspects had since been arraigned before the High Court and charged with facilitating gold smuggling, transporting gold without authorisation, and other related offences.
The GoldBod CEO stated that the suspects were remanded in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) but were later granted bail, with conditions yet to be fulfilled.
He said four other suspects remain at large. They are Abdul Karim, a Ghanaian whose details are yet to be established; Sadique Abubakari, a Ghanaian in his late 30s believed to be hiding in Ashaiman, Amrahia or Tamale; Muhammed Nandoli Rafeeq, also known as Salam, an Indian in his late 40s suspected to be in Dubai; and Muhammed Afsal Puthalan, a 32-year-old Indian from Kerala believed to be hiding in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Dubai or possibly India.
Mr. Gyamfi said arrest warrants had been secured for the fugitives, and urged the public to provide information that could lead to their capture by reporting to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office in Accra.
Toll-free hotlines have also been opened for the public to assist in the manhunt.
Meanwhile, GoldBod has suspended the license of NK Bernak Enterprise and shut down its Tarkwa offices.
The offices of Rafmoh Jewelry located at the Palace Mall in Accra have also been closed due to their links to the syndicate.
Sammy Gyamfi reaffirmed GoldBod’s commitment to restoring integrity to the country’s gold trade and warned that anyone found engaging in illegal gold trading, hoarding or smuggling would face the full rigours of the law.
By Ernest Kofi Adu