GoldBod is worsening galamsey crisis by buying from illegal miners – Nana B

The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has accused the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) of contributing to the worsening illegal mining crisis in the country.

He said the state-owned gold purchasing institution's operations have created challenges in tracing the sources of gold purchased from licensed buyers.

Speaking at a press conference held at the NPP headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, August 25, the NPP organiser further accused the ruling National Democratic Congress of being involved in the act.

“Galamsey is now worse, worse because of GoldBod, and they themselves have indirectly admitted that galamsey is worse off now. His Excellency the President himself says that his own people are into galamsey,” he said.

He linked the alleged environmental destruction to GoldBod's gold purchasing activities, arguing that the institution had failed to adequately distinguish between gold sourced from legitimate mining operations and gold obtained through illegal mining.

Nana B claimed that some licensed gold buyers associated with GoldBod could be purchasing gold originating from illegal mining activities.

“GoldBod cannot tell the difference between gold bought from legal licensed sources or gold dug up by illegal miners tearing apart our forests and our rivers. Sammy Gyamfi himself admitted on live television that some of GoldBod's own licensed buyers may be doing exactly the wrong thing,” he said.

He further accused the government of mismanaging GoldBod and cited the reported losses of $1.7 billion recored in 2025 under the Domestic Gold Purchasing Programme.

Nana B said the alleged losses are particularly concerning at a time when the country is facing significant economic challenges.