Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has alleged that the establishment of the Gold Board (GoldBod) under the government led by President John Dramani Mahama was intended to give legitimacy to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Prof Adei claimed when he spoke to a congregation in a video widely shared on social media, where he argued that some policies introduced under the presidency of Mahama contributed to the worsening of illegal mining across the country.
According to him, structures like GoldBod by Mahama opened the door for informal and galamsey to thrive under the guise of officialdom.
“Who are the galamseyers? The politicians, the chiefs, and the security agents are responsible for polluting the whole of the water sources in Ghana. They have a way of making it look nice.
“The politicians, the chiefs, and the security agents are responsible for polluting the entire water sources in Ghana. They have a way of making it look acceptable. For example, the current government, which in many ways is doing well, has legalised galamsey. GoldBod is essentially the legalisation of galamsey,” he said.
He stated that the proliferation of galamsey sites and the environmental degradation that followed were partly fuelled by policies that blurred the lines between regulated small-scale mining and illegal operations.
The debate over galamsey remains one of Ghana’s most contentious national issues. As communities continue to grapple with polluted water bodies, destroyed farmlands and health concerns, experts insist that meaningful progress will require unified national action rather than partisan blame.
Prof Adei’s remarks have reignited conversation on whether past and present policies have genuinely curbed illegal mining or inadvertently encouraged it.
About GoldBod
Goldbod, formerly known as the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), was established with a mandate to oversee and regulate gold trading activities across the country.
Goldbod is already making notable strides, achieving results that President Mahama has lauded as remarkable.
Goldbod Ghana Limited, formerly a dormant state entity, was revived by Sammy Gyamfi with a clear mandate to ensure sustainable gold mining, fair trade practices, and community development.
Since taking over as CEO, Sammy Gyamfi has steered the company toward innovation and transparency.
