Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has alleged that the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) by the government is intended to support illegal mining activities.
He made this claim along with other preliminary remarks on issues such as the dismissal of post-December 7 recruits and the removal of some top military officials before delivering his speech at a press conference held at the NPP’s National Headquarters. This was in relation to the planned protest against the suspension of the Chief Justice.
Afenyo-Markin further alleged that the establishment of GoldBod indirectly institutionalizes ‘galamsey,’ claiming that the initiative to purchase mining equipment for small-scale miners is a guise to support illegal mining operations.
“And they have now even institutionalized galamsey by enacting what they call a Gold Board. What is the essence of a Gold Board? They claim that the Gold Board is now going to buy equipment for small-scale miners. But you and I know that their intent is not to support any small-scale miner.
“Their intent is to support galamsey. That’s exactly what they are doing. And they are saying they’re monopolizing the purchase of gold and regulating it and all,” he stated.
He admitted that the previous NPP administration was not successful in its fight against galamsey over the past eight years.
Afenyo-Markin went on to criticize the NDC for using the NPP’s challenges in combating galamsey as a campaign tool, only for their efforts to worsen the situation.
“I must admit we were not successful. The NDC used it as a campaign tool. Today, what do we see? According to Organized Labour—this is not from the NPP—the galamsey situation has worsened,” he said.
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) was established in 2025 under Act 1140 of Parliament to oversee, regulate, and engage in activities related to the buying, selling, assaying, refining, exporting, and other operations concerning gold and precious minerals in Ghana.
In accordance with Section 78 of Act 1140, GoldBod assumed the rights, responsibilities, assets, liabilities, and staff of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) Limited, an entity that evolved from the former Ghana Diamond Marketing Board.
As the sole mandated authority, GoldBod is empowered to license all individuals and entities involved in gold trading and related activities in Ghana, including aggregation, purchasing, smelting, and refining.