This latest Goldbod arrest was confirmed as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal gold trading in line with the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), which prohibits unauthorized gold exports. In a swift operation led by the Ghana Gold Board and National Security, three Indian nationals were arrested in Kumasi for attempting to smuggle several kilograms of gold out of the country.
In addition to the gold, the authorities seized large sums of Ghana cedis and foreign currency during the operation. Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer at the Ghana Gold Board, provided details on the Goldbod arrest.
Earlier Arrests Led to Repatriation, New Offenders Face Prosecution
Mr. Minkah explained that the earlier group of Indian nationals arrested before the 30th April deadline had been repatriated, although they had flouted gold trading regulations.
““You remember that we issued a statement… by the 30th of April this year, all foreigners were expected to exit the local gold trading market. They were buying and selling like now under the new laws, which is purely the reserve of Gold Board,” he stated.
According to Mr. Minkah, because the previous arrests occurred before the official deadline, the individuals were arraigned before court but will be repatriated to reunite with their families; however, persons who fall foul to the current rules of engagement will face the full force of the law.
New Batch of Offenders to Be Prosecuted in Court
For the current Goldbod arrest, Mr. Minkah confirmed that the suspects would face full prosecution. “They will face the full rigors of the law,” he said. “They were caught flouting our laws… and with them, per the arrest, we got to know they had some gold counting machines and some dollars as well—cash also with them,” he noted.
He said all the materials and currency have been confiscated and they will be fully prosecuted.
“As I’ve said on some of your platforms, if you’re a foreigner and you’re caught trading within the local gold trading industry—which is now the sole reserve of the Gold Board—you will be made to face the law.”
Gold Trading in Ghana Now Solely Regulated by Gold Board
Mr. Minkah used the occasion to issue a stern warning to foreign nationals and local actors involved in the gold trade. He emphasized that Ghana’s local gold trading sector is now exclusively reserved for the Gold Board.
“The rules are simple. Local gold trading industry is the sole reserve of the Gold Board,” he said. For foreigners who wish to engage in gold offtake or trading, he advised that they need to write to the Gold Board to obtain an LOI, and then come through negotiations, the goldbod will help ship the gold for you.
He also encouraged Ghanaian citizens to apply for the necessary Gold Board licenses to ensure legal protection in their trading activities.
This marks the second Goldbod arrest involving Indian nationals in recent weeks, with the latest offenders now heading to court. The Ghana Gold Board says it remains committed to enforcing the law and cleansing the industry of illegal operations.
This Goldbod arrest also stands as a strong signal to foreign traders and local collaborators that Ghana’s gold industry will no longer tolerate unauthorized activity.
