The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has defended the agency’s record in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting that the newly established institution has already made an impact.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, September 19, Mr. Gyamfi said GoldBod, which was set up barely five months ago, has provided more direct support to anti-galamsey efforts than any other state body.
He pointed to the board’s recent donation of five Toyota Hilux pickups and GHS 5 million to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to enhance field operations.
“In less than five months since our establishment, we’ve done what no institution in Ghana has done. NAIMOS, which coordinates the galamsey fight, didn’t have money or vehicles. GoldBod has given them five million Ghana cedis and five Toyota Hilux vehicles, and we plan to provide more,” he stressed.
Mr. Gyamfi also dismissed criticisms that GoldBod’s activities may be indirectly encouraging illegal mining through its gold-purchasing initiatives. He argued that the board cannot be held responsible for a problem that predates its existence.
“How can a five-month-old statutory corporation be responsible for an age-long galamsey problem? Galamsey has been with us for decades. Last year there was no Gold Board, yet we saw alarming levels of illegal mining. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he explained.
The GoldBod boss emphasized that the board was established under the Gold Board Act with a mandate to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices while supporting the work of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and other allied agencies.
“Our function is to support the promotion of sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly mining practices. We are in the gold-trading space, so Parliament said we should assist the national fight. That is exactly what we are doing,” he added.
