The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has begun enforcing the newly passed Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), with a clear message: gold smuggling will no longer go unpunished.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, May 14, GoldBod spokesperson Prince Minkah revealed that six foreign nationals were arrested in connection with illegal gold trading—three of whom have been deported, while the remaining three are set to be prosecuted under the new law.
The arrests were made during separate operations in the Ashanti Region and Anyinam. According to GoldBod, the legal action taken against each group depended on the timing of their arrest in relation to the April 30 enforcement deadline for Act 1140.
The three deportees, all Indian nationals, were apprehended before the law officially took effect. While they violated Ghana’s gold trading regulations, their offenses occurred outside the scope of the new, stricter legal framework. As a result, they were repatriated.
“They will be returned to their home country to reunite with their families,” said Minkah.
However, the second group, arrested in Anyinam after the April 30 deadline, will be prosecuted under Act 1140. The law, which now restricts local gold trading to the exclusive domain of the Ghana Gold Board, carries stiff penalties for foreign nationals found operating illegally in the sector.
“If you’re a foreigner and caught trading gold illegally, you will face the law,” Minkah stated firmly.
Items recovered during the second operation included gold-counting machines and large sums of U.S. currency. These have been seized as evidence for prosecution.
The Ghana Gold Board Act was introduced to combat illegal gold exports and tighten regulatory control over Ghana’s gold industry. The law provided a grace period for foreign operators to exit the local market, which expired on April 30.
Minkah emphasized that the enforcement of the law is part of a broader effort to restore integrity to the gold trade, curb smuggling, and ensure Ghana benefits fully from its natural resources.
He concluded with a strong warning: “The rules are clear. Foreigners can no longer operate in our local gold trade. There will be no excuses moving forward.”
