The GoldBod Taskforce has apprehended ten Chinese nationals  allegedly involved in illicit gold trading at Asankragua in the Western Region just two days after the government imposed a nationwide ban on foreign participation in the domestic gold market.

The arrests, carried out by the GoldBod Taskforce—a newly empowered enforcement unit—took place at a private residence in Asankragua, a mining hub in the country’s Western Region. Acting on intelligence from local informants, task force operatives confiscated approximately 1.3 kilograms of gold, an estimated GH₵1.4 million ($108,000) in cash, a pump-action shotgun, and what officials described as “casino-style cards” suspected to be linked to money laundering activities.

“This is not a symbolic action—we mean business,” said Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of GoldBod, the state-backed body tasked with cleaning up Ghana’s gold industry. “You cannot engage in illegal gold trading or smuggling and expect to go scot-free.”

Unlike in previous cases involving foreign nationals, Mr.Gyamfi confirmed that the suspects will not be deported but instead face prosecution under Ghanaian law. “The grace period is over,” he said at a press briefing in Accra. “We’ve issued enough warnings. Now, if you’re caught, you’ll be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

The crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of illegal mining and foreign interference in Ghana’s artisanal gold market, a multibillion-dollar industry long plagued by regulatory gaps and smuggling. The government’s new directive explicitly prohibits non-Ghanaians from engaging in gold buying or selling activities, part of broader reforms aimed at stemming revenue losses and environmental degradation.

According to Mr. Gyamfi, investigators are building what he described as a “water-tight case” against the accused. The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court within 24 hours, where prosecutors will request that they be remanded into custody pending further investigation.

“This operation sends a clear message,” Mr. Gyamfi said. “Ghana is serious about protecting its natural resources and restoring order to its gold sector.”

Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer and among the top exporters globally, but illegal mining—locally known as galamsey—has eroded state revenues and drawn criticism for its environmental toll. The government has stepped up enforcement efforts in recent years, though critics argue that implementation has often lacked consistency.

Source:TheDotNews