Section 25 of Gold Board Act should be amended to prevent mandate overlap, financial losses — Africa Policy Lens

Policy think tank Africa Policy Lens (APL) has called for an urgent amendment of Section 25 of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

It observed that its current provisions may overlap institutional mandates and create financial inefficiencies in the mining sector.

The group says recent activities by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), particularly in forest reclamation and mineral-related interventions, are stretching the institution beyond its core mandate.

It argues that this development could weaken existing agencies responsible for mining governance and environmental protection.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 19, and signed by its President, Dr George Domfe, APL raised concerns over GoldBod’s collaboration with the Forestry Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces on a GH¢36.35 million project to reclaim 50 hectares of degraded land in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

“While Goldbod steps in to support reclamation activities, the breadth of these provisions creates significant risks of mandate duplication, institutional overlap, and the gradual evolution of Goldbod into a de facto upstream small-scale mining regulator,” the statement read in part.

APL stressed that such functions fall outside the legal mandate of the Gold Board and should remain within institutions such as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and the Forestry Commission.

It further cautioned that continued expansion of GoldBod’s role could distort accountability structures within the extractive sector.

APL is therefore proposing amendments to Section 25(1) and 25(3) of the Act, including a provision to ensure that funds are transferred directly to mandated public institutions rather than administered by GoldBod.