Policy Analyst and Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Emmanuel Steve Asare Manteaw, has called on the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to strengthen its gold traceability system to prevent illegally mined gold from entering the legitimate trading chain.

His comments come amid increasing concerns from some sections of the public that GoldBod may be purchasing gold produced by illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers.

Critics argue that the alleged patronage of illegally mined gold could create a ready market for galamsey and, consequently, undermine efforts to curb illegal mining and its environmental impact.

In a social media post on Tuesday, August 11, the policy analyst cautioned that efforts to restrict the sale of gold from unlicensed miners could also push galamseyers to alternative markets, including smuggling, potentially depriving the country of revenue from the gold trade.

“Ask miners to prove they are licensed to mine, when they offer their gold for sale and this is what will happen: The licensed miners will become conduits for galamsey gold for a fee. Galamsey gold will therefore continue to enter the transaction chain,” Dr Manteaw said.

According to him, Ghana could lose the economic benefits associated with the gold while still being left with the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.

Rather than vilifying GoldBod over the concerns, Dr Manteaw urged stakeholders to contribute ideas towards establishing an efficient system for tracing and tracking gold from its source to the market.

“I challenge the GoldBod to convene a forum to update Ghanaians on its traceability efforts, and to solicit input from the public,” he said.

He also called on GoldBod to continue supporting state efforts in land reclamation, water treatment and broader environmental sustainability.