GoldBod rejects claims Sammy Gyamfi endorsed galamsey

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has rejected allegations that its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, supports illegal mining, describing a viral social media video featuring him as misleadingly edited.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 24, the Board said the footage was extracted from Mr Gyamfi’s engagement with artisanal and small-scale miners in March 2026, where he explained the government’s plan to bring eligible informal miners into a regulated and environmentally responsible system.

GoldBod argued that the video had been edited to remove the context of his remarks, giving the impression that he had endorsed illegal mining.

“Government’s policy is not to legitimise illegal mining. It is to end illegality by transitioning eligible operators into a formal system where they can be licensed, regulated, monitored and held accountable for their environmental and operational conduct,” the statement clarified.

The Board stressed that helping eligible informal miners formalise their operations through legal channels should not be interpreted as support for illegal mining.

It cited Mr Gyamfi’s position at the 2026 Mining in Motion Summit, where he called for a mining regulatory framework that combines strict enforcement with formalisation, capacity-building and economic opportunities.

As part of the policy, GoldBod said consultations had begun on its proposed Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP), which is expected to be rolled out in 2027.

The programme is being developed in partnership with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), with technical assistance from Rand Refinery SA.

The initiative is expected to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible miners, boost mineral production and revenue, create jobs, lower operational costs and mitigate environmental damage.

GoldBod said it had also begun consultations with government institutions, small-scale miners’ associations, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure the programme addresses the needs of the sector and remains sustainable.

The Board further announced that it was working with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to conduct geological investigations at Funsi in the Upper West Region and Benesere in the Ashanti Region.

The studies are expected to identify mineralised zones, guide responsible mining activities and discourage environmentally harmful practices associated with speculative or so-called “lottery mining”.

On environmental protection, GoldBod said it was supporting the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) while investing in responsible gold sourcing, traceability, land reclamation and water remediation.

The Board disclosed that it was financing the restoration of 50 hectares of degraded land in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, assisting with the rehabilitation of water treatment plants affected by illegal mining and procuring a tracking system to improve transparency in gold sourcing.

“These are not the actions or policies of an institution that endorses illegal mining,” the Board maintained.

GoldBod reiterated its opposition to mining activities that damage water bodies and forest reserves, saying environmental protection and effective regulation remain key priorities.

It also cited Section 3(1)(f) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), which mandates the institution to promote the formalisation of small-scale mining through supply chain sustainability.

The Board reaffirmed its commitment to combating illegal mining while creating opportunities for eligible operators to move into a regulated sector that supports Ghana’s economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Also read:

• Sammy Gyamfi defends formalisation of unlicensed small-scale mining

• Minority demands Sammy Gyamfi’s resignation over comments on small-scale mining licences

Read the full statement below: