GoldBod dismisses claims Sammy Gyamfi endorsed illegal mining, clarifies formalisation policy

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has dismissed claims that its Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, endorsed illegal mining, describing a viral video circulating on social media as selectively edited and misleading.

In a press release issued on Saturday, October 24, GoldBod said the video, taken from an engagement with artisanal and small-scale miners in March 2026, had been edited to remove important context from the CEO's remarks.

According to the Board, Mr Gyamfi was explaining the government's policy to identify and document informal mining operators and transition eligible miners into a lawful, regulated and environmentally responsible mining system.

"This attempt is false and fundamentally misrepresents the substance and context of the CEO's remarks," the statement said.

GoldBod emphasised that the government's policy is not intended to legitimise illegal mining but rather to eliminate unlawful operations by bringing eligible miners under a formal regulatory framework.

"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," it explained.

The Board stressed that permitting illegal mining is fundamentally different from creating opportunities for eligible informal or unlicensed miners to regularise their operations and comply with the law.

It further recalled that at the 2026 Mining in Motion Summit, Mr Gyamfi reiterated the need for mining regulations to be firm, practical and inclusive, while prioritising formalisation, capacity-building and compliance alongside enforcement.

GoldBod said this approach forms the basis of its planned Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Formalisation and Financing Support Programme (FFSP).

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

According to the Board, the programme seeks to provide formalisation and financing support to eligible small-scale miners while increasing gold production, mineral revenues and employment opportunities.

GoldBod maintained that Mr Gyamfi's remarks were consistent with the government's broader objective of promoting responsible mining through effective regulation rather than endorsing illegal activities.