Facing mounting public pressure and environmental crisis, Ghanaian President John Mahama on Tuesday unveiled a new national task force (GOLDBOD Task Force) to take on the country’s deep-rooted and destructive illegal gold mining industry, locally known as galamsey.
The initiative comes amid public outrage over polluted rivers, health hazards, and economic losses tied to unauthorized mining activities, a crisis that became a central theme in last year’s elections.
In a televised ceremony, Mahama formally launched the GOLDBOD Task Force, a multi-agency unit made up of military personnel and law enforcement officials empowered to conduct arrests and disrupt illegal operations.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Inside John Mahama’s bold plan to transform Ghana’s economy if re-elected president
“The creation of this task force signals our readiness to act decisively,” Mahama declared. “Let this serve as a warning to all those involved in gold smuggling and illegal trade: the law will be enforced without fear or favor.”
Watch a recent episode of The BreakDown podcast below and subscribe to our channel PanaGenius TV for latest episodes.
This new operation builds on the earlier establishment of the Ghana Gold Board in January, the sole institution authorized to regulate all small-scale gold transactions and exports in the country. Mahama said both bodies will work hand-in-hand to crack down on illicit mining networks and the shadow economy built around them.
A major gold producer on the continent, Ghana has long suffered from the effects of illegal mining, which has caused deforestation, poisoned waterways, and drained national revenue. A surge in youth unemployment has only fueled the expansion of the underground industry.
Widespread demonstrations in recent years, largely driven by environmental destruction and frustrations with government inaction, increased pressure on Mahama during his campaign. He had promised a tougher stance on galamsey, and now claims the new strategy is already bearing fruit, including improvements in the cedi’s performance.
In an effort to build public trust, President John Mahama stated that task force members will be equipped with body cameras to ensure transparency and allow for real-time monitoring of operations.
Nonetheless, experts remain cautious. “The task force can help,” Festus Aboagye, a security analyst based in Accra told AP. “But the challenge, as usual, is not regulation but enforcement.”
