National Security arrests 6 foreigners, seize gold bars, cash over alleged illegal gold trade

A recent operation led by officials from the National Security Secretariat has resulted in the arrest of several foreign nationals involved in illegal gold trading in Ghana.

The operation, spearheaded by National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul Osman, took place a few days ago and led to the seizure of thousands of dollars in cash and hundreds of gold bars.

Speaking at a press briefing on May 14, 2025, at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, Prince Minkah, Media Relations Officer for the Ghana GoldBod, confirmed that those arrested will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The crackdown comes in the wake of a directive issued by the Ghana GoldBod, which took effect on May 1, 2025, banning all foreigners and unauthorized individuals from trading in the local gold market.

Under the new regulations, only the Ghana GoldBod has the exclusive mandate to oversee and regulate artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations in the country.

The agency further clarified that any foreign entity or individual seeking to engage in the gold trade must first “apply to the Ghana GoldBod to buy or off-take gold directly from the GoldBod,” in line with the revised framework.