Ghana to Deport 3 Foreigners, Prosecute 3 Others Over Illegal Gold Trade

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Key Points

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• Ghana will deport three Indian nationals arrested before April 30 for illegal gold trade.
• Three other foreigners arrested after the deadline will face prosecution under the new Gold Board Act.
• The law grants exclusive gold trading authority to the Ghana Gold Board.

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The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has confirmed that three of six foreign nationals arrested for illegal gold trading will be deported, while the remaining three will be prosecuted under the new Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

Prince Minkah, spokesperson for GoldBod, announced the enforcement action during a press conference held in Accra on May 14. He explained that the legal outcomes were determined based on the timing of the arrests in relation to an April 30 deadline that barred foreigners from participating in Ghana’s domestic gold trade.

Deportation for Those Arrested Before Deadline

According to Mr. Minkah, the first group of offenders—three Indian nationals apprehended in the Ashanti Region—were arrested before the new law took effect.

“These individuals violated earlier gold trade regulations, but since they were detained before Act 1140 came into force, they fall outside the scope of the new law,” he clarified.

As a result, authorities will deport them to their home country. “They will be repatriated to reunite with their families,” he added.

Prosecution for Post-Deadline Offenders

The second group of suspects, also foreign nationals, was caught trading gold illegally in Anyinam after the April 30 cutoff date. Unlike the first group, these individuals now face prosecution under Act 1140, which strictly prohibits non-Ghanaians from operating in the local gold sector.

“If you’re a foreigner and caught trading gold illegally, you will face the law,” Mr. Minkah warned.

Authorities also seized several items from this group, including gold counting machines and large amounts of U.S. dollars. These have been confiscated and will serve as evidence in court.

Law Aims to Eliminate Smuggling, Restore Transparency

The Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025, was enacted to strengthen the regulation of gold trade and eliminate smuggling networks that have cost the country billions in lost revenue. Under this law, only the Ghana Gold Board has the exclusive mandate to oversee and approve local gold trading operations.

Mr. Minkah emphasized that the law marks a new era in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining and gold smuggling.

“The rules are clear. Foreigners can no longer operate in our local gold trade. There will be no excuses moving forward,” he said firmly.

Heightened Surveillance and Enforcement

To ensure compliance, GoldBod has increased surveillance and is working closely with national security agencies. Minkah reiterated that further violations would be met with immediate and strict penalties.

He called on all stakeholders to respect the new legal framework, noting that Ghana is committed to protecting its natural resources and ensuring that the gold sector benefits its citizens.

“Ghana is no longer a playground for illegal operators. We are cleaning up the industry for good,” he concluded.