Ghana has launched its first national anti-gold smuggling task force as part of an ambitious effort to tackle illegal gold trading and recover billions of dollars in lost revenue. President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the new task force on Tuesday, underscoring the urgent need to address the rampant smuggling that continues to undermine the country’s mining sector.
Backed by both police and military forces, the task force will focus on intercepting illicit gold shipments and dismantling the networks behind them. According to Mahama, the initiative is already bolstered by Ghana’s recent establishment of the GoldBod, a centralized gold trading board aimed at formalizing the sector and boosting official exports.
“In the first five months of 2025 alone, Ghana recorded official gold exports of 55.7 metric tonnes valued at $5 billion. This is money that would not have come back to Ghana because traders would have taken it and kept the foreign exchange outside,” Mahama said.
To encourage citizen participation, the government has introduced a 10% reward scheme for informants whose tips lead to the seizure of smuggled gold. This incentive aims to tap into local knowledge and increase the effectiveness of enforcement operations.
Looking ahead, Mahama outlined a broader vision that includes the implementation of a nationwide gold traceability system and a shift to exporting refined gold by 2026. Ghana also plans to set up an assay laboratory certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ensure quality control, and a specialized manufacturing hub to boost local value addition.
The move comes amid a regional push across West Africa to maximize gains from surging commodity prices. While military-led regimes have opted for aggressive tactics such as nationalizing assets and renegotiating mining contracts, democratic governments like Ghana and Ivory Coast are favoring more structured reforms including higher royalties and improved revenue-sharing frameworks.
With global gold prices having surged by 25% this year and hitting $3,500 per ounce in April, Ghana’s reforms could not be more timely. The task force marks a significant step toward restoring transparency and boosting public trust in the mining sector.
