Ghana has launched its first national anti-smuggling task force to curb the illegal trade in gold, as the West African country moves to reclaim billions of dollars lost annually through unregulated exports. The new force—comprising military and police units—was officially unveiled by President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday in Accra.
The initiative marks a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to tighten control over its gold sector, which remains one of the most lucrative yet poorly regulated in Africa. Despite previous attempts to formalize artisanal mining, illegal extraction and gold smuggling have continued to cost the country substantial revenue.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, President Mahama emphasized the economic urgency behind the move, stating that illegal traders have long siphoned off foreign currency earnings by selling gold abroad without repatriating profits. “These are funds that would have been lost forever. Now, we are putting mechanisms in place to ensure they come back to Ghana,” he said.
As part of broader reforms in 2025, Ghana also established a centralized gold trading body known as GoldBod, which now oversees official sales and purchases across the country. The new system has already had a notable impact: official gold exports reached 55.7 metric tons, valued at $5 billion, in the first five months of the year—a record figure for Ghana.
To further encourage public cooperation, the government announced a 10% monetary reward for whistleblowers whose tips lead to the seizure of smuggled gold. In addition, Ghana plans to introduce a national gold tracking system and move towards the export of refined gold by 2026.
Mahama also revealed plans to enhance value addition within the sector by establishing an ISO-certified gold assay lab and a dedicated manufacturing hub, aiming to ensure quality standards and attract investment in downstream processing.
The crackdown comes amid a surge in global gold prices, which have jumped 25% since the beginning of 2025, peaking at $3,500 per ounce in April, according to Reuters. With such prices driving up illegal activity, several West African governments are seeking to increase their share of commodity revenues.
While military-led regimes in the region have adopted aggressive policies such as asset seizures and contract renegotiations, Ghana—widely regarded as one of the region’s stable democracies—has opted for gradual regulatory reforms, including higher royalties and revenue-sharing adjustments.
With gold being a critical pillar of Ghana’s economy, the success of the new task force may prove pivotal not only in curbing smuggling, but also in shaping the country’s broader development agenda in the years ahead.
