The Acting Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that the GoldBod Bill, once passed, will empower designated inspectors to take action against illegal gold smuggling. Speaking on JoyNews PM Express on Tuesday, March 25, Mr. Gyamfi indicated that Ghana has faced challenges in enforcing gold smuggling laws due to the absence of a specific agency dedicated to addressing this issue.
“We are not enforcing the law on gold smuggling, and we don’t know the agency that is dedicated to the fight against gold smuggling. “We’ve left it to the normal security agencies. But now you’re going to see in this bill, special powers given to the GoldBod, such as the right to appoint GoldBod inspectors,” he stated. He explained that under the bill, GoldBod inspectors will have the same authority as police officers, enabling them to conduct searches, demand documentation, seize illegally traded gold, and take offenders to court.
“If they have cause to believe that you are engaged in illegal gold trading or smuggling, they can seize your gold, they can impound, they can confiscate, they can go to court for such warrants by themselves,” Mr. Gyamfi added. The acting Managing Director of PMMC further stated that the initiative will also establish a task force working in collaboration with national security, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Defence to strengthen enforcement efforts.
“This is going to be special… Let the bill be passed and let the President assent to it. You can’t totally eliminate them, but for the first time, you will see gold smugglers being arrested, their gold seized, and them being taken to court to be prosecuted and convicted,” he assured.
By: Prince Adu-Owusu
