Parliament has passed the Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025, clearing the path for the creation of the Gold Board, an entity tasked with regulating the gold industry.
The board will oversee gold purchases, sales, and exports to improve transparency, enhance traceability, and increase foreign exchange earnings to stabilize the cedi. However, the bill’s passage has sparked criticism from the Minority in Parliament.
Speaking to journalists, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned the government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, also known as galamsey, and raised concerns about the allocation of GH₵4.6 billion to the initiative.
“We all know the struggles this country faces with galamsey. The same government that promised to fight it is now creating what is essentially a ‘Galamsey Board.’ Instead of investing in agriculture, women’s banking, and the 24-hour economy, they are channeling GH₵4.6 billion into galamsey operations.”
He argued that the government’s actions contradict its public stance against illegal mining.
“How can you claim to be fighting galamsey while establishing an entity to regulate and fund it? This government is not serious about ending illegal mining.”
The Ghana Gold Board, according to the government, is expected to bring order to the country’s gold sector, ensuring responsible mining practices and maximizing state revenue.
However, critics like Afenyo-Markin believe that the move could legitimize and empower galamsey operators under the guise of regulation.
