The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has rejected claims that its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, endorsed illegal mining, describing the allegations as false and misleading.
The Board said the claims were based on a selectively edited video circulating on social media, which it argues misrepresents the context and substance of remarks made by the CEO during an engagement with artisanal and small-scale miners in March 2026.
According to GoldBod, the original remarks focused on the government’s policy of identifying and documenting mining operators and transitioning eligible informal miners into a lawful, regulated and environmentally responsible mining system.
In a statement, the Board stressed that the government’s objective was not to legitimise illegal mining but to bring eligible operators into the formal system, where their activities could be licensed, monitored and regulated.
“Government’s policy is not to legitimize illegal mining. It is to end illegality by transitioning eligible operators into a formal system where they can be licensed, regulated, monitored and held accountable for their environmental and operational conduct,” the statement said.
GoldBod maintained that there was a clear distinction between permitting illegal mining and creating a pathway for eligible informal or unlicensed miners to regularise their operations in accordance with the law.
The Board added that Mr Gyamfi had consistently advocated a mining regulatory approach that combines firm enforcement with practical measures to formalise operations, build capacity and create opportunities for miners who comply with the law.
GoldBod Begins Consultations on Mining Formalisation Programme
As part of efforts to formalise the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, GoldBod said it had commenced stakeholder consultations on its proposed ASM Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP).
The programme is being pursued in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology, and the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF), with technical support from Rand Refinery SA.
The initiative is expected to support formalisation and access to financing for small-scale miners while increasing gold production, mineral revenues and employment opportunities.
It is also intended to reduce operational costs and address environmental degradation associated with irresponsible mining practices.
GoldBod said its ongoing consultations involved relevant government agencies, small-scale miners’ associations, civil society organisations and other key industry stakeholders.
The engagements are expected to ensure that the proposed policy reflects the needs of the industry and remains inclusive and sustainable ahead of its planned rollout in 2027.
Geological Studies to Support Responsible Mining
The Board further disclosed that it was working with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to conduct geological studies in mineralised areas to support the responsible expansion of the country’s mining sector.
The studies are currently underway at Funsi in the Upper West Region and Bensere in the Ashanti Region.
According to GoldBod, the investigations are intended to improve geological certainty and help eliminate what it described as “lottery mining,” a practice that often contributes to environmental degradation.
The Board said the broader strategy was to improve access to finance, promote modern mining practices, strengthen accountability and make responsible mining a viable alternative to illegal operations.
GoldBod Reaffirms Commitment to Fight Illegal Mining
GoldBod reiterated its opposition to irresponsible mining activities that destroy water bodies and forest reserves, insisting that such practices must be curtailed.
The Board said it had been supporting the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and investing in responsible sourcing, traceability, land reclamation and water remediation.
Among the interventions outlined are the reclamation of 50 hectares of degraded land in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, support for the rehabilitation of water treatment plants affected by irresponsible mining, and the procurement of a track-and-trace system to strengthen accountability and responsible gold sourcing.
“These are not the actions or policies of an institution that endorses illegal mining,” the statement said.
GoldBod maintained that the circulation of the edited video was an attempt to portray its policy of transitioning eligible miners into regulated operations as an endorsement of illegal mining.
It reiterated that illegal and irresponsible mining must end, while eligible operators should be given a lawful pathway to regularise their activities and be held accountable for their environmental and operational conduct.
The Board said its commitment to formalising the small-scale mining industry and promoting sustainable mineral development was consistent with its statutory mandate under Section 3(1)(f) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
It reaffirmed its commitment to responsible mining, environmental protection and the sustainable transformation of Ghana’s mineral resources into national prosperity.
Issued by: The Media Relations Unit, Ghana Gold Board.
