In a decisive clampdown on illegal gold trading, a special operation led by Ghana’s National Security has resulted in the arrest of six Indians in sep
In a decisive clampdown on illegal gold trading, a special operation led by Ghana’s National Security has resulted in the arrest of six Indians in separate raids conducted in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions.
According to officials, three of the suspects were apprehended at Anyinam in the Eastern Region, while the remaining three were nabbed at Adiembra in the Ashanti Region.
The operation, executed a few days ago under the leadership of National Security Coordinator, DCOP Abdul Razak Osman, also led to the seizure of thousands of Ghana cedis, hundreds of gold bars, and money-counting machines believed to be used in the illicit trade.
This operation forms part of a broader effort by the state to sanitize Ghana’s gold trading sector, which authorities say has been infiltrated by foreigners operating illegally under the guise of local ownership.
Addressing the media on May 14, 2025, at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, Prince Minkah, Media Relations Officer for the Ghana GoldBod, reiterated that illegal foreign involvement in local gold trading will not be tolerated.
He disclosed that the latest arrests were made after the April 30, 2025, deadline given to foreigners to regularize their activities.
As such, while an earlier group of foreign nationals arrested before the deadline will be deported, those arrested in the recent operation will be prosecuted in accordance with Ghanaian law.
“For the second batch, they will go to court and face the law. This is a warning to every foreigner in Ghana—local gold trading is the sole reserve of the GoldBod,” Minkah declared.
DCOP Osman added that investigations revealed the involvement of Ghanaian citizens who assisted the foreign nationals by using their identities to register businesses.
These tactics, he explained, were designed to avoid tax obligations and obscure the real ownership and beneficiaries of the gold trading operations.
The Ghana GoldBod has since reiterated its regulatory mandate, stating that any foreign national or individual wishing to engage in gold trading in Ghana must officially apply to the GoldBod for authorization to buy or off-take gold directly from the body.
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