Ghanaian politician and businessman, Mr. Adaai Odike, has expressed concerns that the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is an endorsement of illegal mining activities.
Mr. Odike believes that illegal miners may exploit the GoldBod’s mandate to engage in illicit mining and sell their gold to the Board.
The Ghana Gold Board is the sole authority responsible for buying, selling, weighing, grading, assaying, valuing, and exporting gold and other precious minerals in Ghana.
The Board is committed to excellence in precious minerals trading, value addition, and customer satisfaction, as outlined in its vision, mission, core values, and objectives under the Ghana Gold Board Act, (Act 1140) 2025.
The Board’s vision is to become a world-class gold trading organization, promoting sustainability, traceability, and value addition for economic transformation.
However, Mr. Odike thinks that the establishment of the GoldBod may inadvertently increase illegal mining activities.
In an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he stated that the establishment of the GoldBod by the NDC government is as an endorsement of illegal mining, as those engaged in such activities will have a ready market for their gold.
“What I know is that when you are licensed to mine, you have a responsibility to engage in responsible mining, embark on afforestation, and cover all pits. But from my investigations over the last elections, these licensed miners are not covering the pits, let alone embarking on afforestation. Aside from that, the government claims to have introduced GoldBod for purchasing gold. However, the establishment of GoldBod has emboldened illegal miners, as it is buying gold from them, serving as a source of income for them. This is not healthy for the country. We will continue criticising the government, whether they accept it in good faith or not.”
Mr. Odike has advised President John Dramani Mahama to impose a ban on all forms of small-scale mining activities, conduct an audit, and investigate licensed mining firms to ensure compliance with mining regulations.
He emphasised the need to halt both licensed and unlicensed small-scale mining activities and conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether licensed operators are adhering to mining laws.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
