Tuesday, 11 November

GoldBod, National Security arrest 25 over illegal gold trade and fabrication

News
Arrest

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), in collaboration with the National Security Secretariat, has arrested 25 individuals — including several foreign nationals — for their alleged involvement in illegal gold trading, smuggling, and unauthorized assaying operations across parts of Accra.

The arrests, carried out between 5th and 6th November 2025, followed weeks of intelligence-led surveillance and coordinated enforcement operations aimed at clamping down on illicit gold activities and ensuring accountability within Ghana’s gold value chain.

Addressing the media at the GoldBod Head Office in Accra, Deputy Chief Executive (DCEO) Richard Nunekpeku disclosed that the suspects were apprehended in two separate operations — one at Dome Pillar 2 and another at Achimota-Akweteman.

According to him, the first operation led to the arrest of five suspects — four Indian nationals and one Ghanaian — for allegedly fabricating and trading gold without valid licenses. Their actions, he said, contravened Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Sections 26(3) and (5) of the Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

The suspects have been identified as Bhaskar Jashu, Manog Mal, Susajit Senti, Sardar Prennath, and Victoria Minkah.

Intelligence reports indicate that the group was apprehended while refining gold illegally in a jewelry shop at Dome Pillar 2.

In a related development on 6th November 2025, a joint GoldBod–National Security Task Force raided the premises of Legend Precious Metal, located at Achimota-Akweteman. The operation was based on intelligence that the company was engaged in illegal gold smelting, assaying, and cross-border trading activities.

GoldBod says the coordinated actions form part of its broader strategy to sanitize the gold sector, ensure compliance with national regulations, and protect Ghana’s mineral wealth from illicit exploitation.

Source: classfmonline.com