Police at Kotoka International Airport have intercepted 17 boxes of smuggled gold bars in a major operation that has unearthed the alleged involvement of high-ranking members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The bust, which has sparked widespread public interest, is now the focus of an intense investigation to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
The Ghana Police Service has intercepted 17 boxes filled with gold bars at the Aviance section of Kotoka International Airport in Accra, suspected to be illegally transported to Dubai.
The operation, which took place on the evening of December 17, 2024, around 8:30 p.m., is part of heightened efforts to crack down on gold smuggling, a major source of financial loss to the country. The confiscated gold has been moved to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters for further investigation.
This incident comes amidst growing concerns over the impact of illicit mining and gold smuggling on Ghana’s economy. At a recent Civil Society Organization (CSO) conference on mining reforms and governance, Chris Aston, team lead for the UK Ghana Gold Programme (UKGGP), disclosed that Ghana loses approximately $2 billion annually in tax revenue due to these illegal activities.
“This is all lost revenue to the government of Ghana,” Aston emphasized. “The industry is at risk of being exploited by criminal organizations, with smuggling activities more than doubling in recent years. Reports indicate that around 60 tons of gold were smuggled out of Ghana in 2022 alone.”
The UKGGP, along with other international and local stakeholders, has called for urgent reforms to combat illicit financial inflows and secure the mining sector from further exploitation.
The intercepted consignment has sparked political debate, with some accusing high-ranking officials of being complicit in the smuggling. However, the police have yet to confirm any suspects or affiliations connected to the seized gold.
As investigations continue, the government is under pressure to take decisive action to prevent the country’s valuable resources from being siphoned away illegally.
information available also reveals that some time npp members are being it
