The Minority in Parliament has called for the resignation or dismissal of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) chief executive Sammy Gyamfi over remarks about small-scale mining in a circulating video. GoldBod has rejected the claim that he endorsed illegal mining.
The Minority’s position
In a statement dated 23 October 2026, the Minority, led by Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, said the remarks could imply that miners may operate without a licence outside forest reserves, water bodies and roadsides. It cited sections of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) requiring a licence for small-scale mining, and demanded an apology, government sanctions, an audit of GoldBod’s gold traceability documentation, and a roadmap for ending illegal mining.
GoldBod’s response
GoldBod said the video was “selectively edited to misrepresent his remarks”. It said the clip came from a March 2026 engagement with small-scale miners and that Mr Gyamfi was describing a policy to identify, document and move eligible informal miners into the regulated system, which it said is different from permitting illegal mining.
GoldBod says it is developing an Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Formalisation and Financing Support Programme, expected to roll out in 2027.
Why it matters
How Ghana brings informal miners into the licensed system will shape supply-chain risk for every buyer of Ghanaian small-scale gold. See our explainer on small-scale mining and galamsey.
Sources
- DailyGuide: Galamsey remarks: Minority demands Sammy Gyamfi resigns, GoldBod backs CEO (26 October 2026)
- GBC: Minority in Parliament calls for Sammy Gyamfi’s resignation (27 October 2026)
This article is for information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and figures change; confirm the current position with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser before acting. Image: illustration (AI-generated).
