NPP alleges GoldBod gold purchases could be fuelling galamsey

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised suspicions that the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) may be inadvertently facilitating illegal mining through its gold purchasing activities. At a press conference on Tuesday, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye questioned the effectiveness of GoldBod's mechanisms for tracing the origin of gold bought from mining communities.

Boakye argued that the gold supply chain's weaknesses could make it challenging to differentiate between legally mined gold and that obtained through illegal activities, known as galamsey. He alleged that GoldBod is a significant contributor to the environmental damage caused by galamsey, making it responsible for the issue. Boakye's concerns extend beyond the NPP, as other stakeholders in the mining sector, including the Ghana Chamber of Mines and certain Members of Parliament, have also questioned the source of gold purchased through GoldBod's network.

Boakye demanded that GoldBod provide a clearer explanation of how it verifies the origin of gold before it is incorporated into the formal trading system. He pointed out that despite repeated assurances of efforts to enhance traceability, the issue remains unresolved. The NPP National Organiser is thus urging for increased transparency in GoldBod's operations, particularly concerning the procedures used by the state-owned institution and its licensed buyers to confirm the source of gold procured from miners.

These allegations come as the government continues its ongoing battle against illegal mining, which has been linked to severe environmental degradation and the pollution of water sources nationwide.