President John Dramani Mahama has announced a cash reward scheme for individuals who report illegal gold smuggling activities, promising 10 per cent of the value of any recovered gold in cash.
He made the announcement on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the official inauguration of the Ghana Gold Board Task Force in Accra.
“If you blow the whistle and gold or money is retrieved, you will get 10 per cent of its value,” the President said, calling on Ghanaians to help tackle what he described as widespread smuggling and black market activity in the gold sector.
The task force, set up under Act 1140, is part of the mandate of the Ghana Gold Board to regulate the gold trade and improve transparency across the industry.
It comprises selected officers from the military, national security, and other enforcement agencies. All members have undergone specialised training in anti-corruption procedures and technical operations.
To improve transparency, officers will operate with body-worn cameras during all field assignments, while task force vehicles will be fitted with GPS tracking systems monitored in real time. No operation is permitted without a written warrant issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board.
Mr Mahama cautioned that any officer found engaging in misconduct or corrupt practices would be dismissed immediately, prosecuted, and stripped of all entitlements.
The new measures come in response to mounting concerns about underreporting and smuggling in the gold sector.
The Save Ghana Movement's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Andzie Ansah, has criticized President John Dramani Mahama's plan to offer whistleblowers 10% of seized gold or cash from illegal gold traders.
Andzie Ansah made this known during an exclusive interview on Fabea FM's "Me Man Ho Dadwen" with Apiah-Kubi, saying the mandate to combat illegal gold trading and smuggling with reward allocation in the gold market will encourage bribery and corruption.
The Save Ghana Movement aims to emphasize the pressing need for Ghanaians to recognize the prolonged lack of progress caused by both major political parties since independence.
According to Andzie, to ensure that Ghana derives the full benefits of its gold resources, citizens need to willingly assist in exposing illicit activities without being rewarded.
He said since Ghana gained independence, there hasn't been much achieved as a country, so the country needs to take strategic measures to identify problems and solve them.
"Ghana as a country since independence has not been able to put measures in place to help young children and retirees, and it's disheartening," Andzie bemoaned.
He further reiterated that if Ghanaians realize they own their resources, smugglers would be apprehended. "If I own something, I will not sit aloof for someone to take or steal it before I apprehend for a reward, so I totally disagree with the president's announcement," Andzie Ansah reiterated.
He highlighted that if there are good roads, quality healthcare, portable water, and quality education, which are being resourced with the country's natural resources, there will be proper oversight to avoid smuggling.
"We should realize that natural resource properties belong to us, and we should not allow foreigners to take ownership," Andzie urged.
He finally emphasized that if the government's vision is to reset the country, citizens need to be educated on that.
He concluded that leaders in the country must identify the country's problems and take steps to solve them.
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