A heated exchange has erupted between Imani Africa’s Vice President, Kofi Bentil, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), S
A heated exchange has erupted between Imani Africa’s Vice President, Kofi Bentil, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, over claims that the state agency is indirectly financing illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
During a live discussion on TV3’s KeyPoints programme on Saturday, October 11, Bentil alleged that as much as 85 percent of the gold purchased by GoldBod originates from illegal mining operations.
According to him, this undermines the government’s credibility in its declared fight against galamsey.
“We continue to buy gold from illegal miners who constitute 85% of small-scale miners, yet we claim to be fighting galamsey,” Bentil stated, referencing what he described as findings from “published research and official data cited by the Minerals Commission and NDPC.”
He accused the government of double standards, asserting that while public officials make pronouncements about ending illegal mining, state-backed entities continue to trade with unlicensed miners.
Kofi Bentil, who boycotted President Mahama’s recent engagement with civil society groups on illegal mining, further challenged the administration to demonstrate seriousness by sacking District Chief Executives (DCEs) in areas where galamsey remains rampant.
“If I don’t see DCEs being dismissed, I will not believe President Mahama is serious about fighting galamsey,” he wrote on Facebook, insisting that his figures are backed by “facts that can easily be verified.”
GoldBod CEO Pushes Back
Responding to the allegations, GoldBod CEO and government spokesperson Sammy Gyamfi strongly refuted the claim, calling it “factually incorrect and misleading.”
In a live phone-in intervention, Gyamfi clarified that GoldBod does not purchase gold directly from small-scale miners, whether legal or illegal, but rather through licensed agents and aggregators who are required to comply with government regulations.
“The GoldBod doesn’t buy gold from illegal miners. We only deal with licensed small-scale miners through certified intermediaries,” he stated.
However, he admitted that the current system makes it difficult to track the original source of gold, since intermediaries could unknowingly mix gold from illegal miners with that from legitimate sources.
To address this loophole, Gyamfi revealed that the Gold Board is developing a traceability mechanism to ensure every ounce of gold it purchases can be traced to a legally recognized source.
“We are finalizing a traceability scheme that will eliminate any doubt about the legitimacy of gold entering our system,” he assured.
Government Defends GoldBod
Adding his voice, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu dismissed Bentil’s assertions, insisting that there is no policy permitting the purchase of gold from illegal miners.
“The international community is closely monitoring the gold supply chain. No responsible government will knowingly buy from illegal sources,” the Minister said.
He reaffirmed the government’s position that all transactions under GoldBod are conducted with licensed operators within the legal framework established by the Minerals and Mining Act.
Background: The Galamsey Dilemma
The renewed controversy over GoldBod’s gold sourcing comes amid intensifying national debate about President Mahama’s handling of the galamsey crisis.
The issue has plagued successive governments for over two decades, with vast stretches of rivers and farmlands destroyed by illegal mining.
In September 2025, President Mahama was criticized after suggesting that the state could buy gold from small-scale miners, including those operating illegally, as part of efforts to bolster national reserves and formalize the trade.
Critics, including former Tourism Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer, warned that the policy risked legitimizing environmental destruction and rewarding lawlessness.
“If the President says government should buy gold from illegal miners, what signal are we sending? It’s an endorsement of illegality,” Mercer said at the time.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have also condemned the administration’s perceived leniency, calling galamsey “a national catastrophe” threatening public health and ecological survival.
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