In a major crackdown on illegal gold trade, the Goldbod taskforce has arrested six individuals — two foreigners and four Ghanaians — during a covert operation at the SSNIT Emporium near Marina Mall in Accra.

The arrests followed several weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the taskforce aimed at curbing unlicensed gold activities within the capital.

According to a statement from Goldbod, the suspects were caught while attempting to purchase and assay about 2.1 kilograms of gold valued at approximately GH₵2.2 million. They were operating without the required authorisation as outlined in the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

Authorities also confiscated gold refining tools from one of the American suspects, believed to have been intended for illegal refining within Ghana’s jurisdiction.

All six suspects have been arraigned before the Accra High Court, facing multiple charges including conspiracy to trade in gold without a licence, unauthorised trading and assaying, and attempting to refine gold illegally — offences contrary to Sections 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 26(1) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

The Gold Board reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of Ghana’s gold trade by ensuring that only certified and licensed entities engage in operations within the sector. It also warned both Ghanaians and foreigners that any form of illegal gold trade, including buying, selling, assaying, or refining without proper licensing, constitutes a criminal offence punishable by law.