Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD), Sammy Gyamfi, has issued a stern warning to gold smugglers, declaring that no one, regardless of political connections, will escape justice.
He made this statement during a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, where GOLDBOD unveiled its investigation into a GH¢120 million gold smuggling syndicate, described as the most elaborate since the Board’s establishment.
“We are determined in our resolve to enforce the Gold Board Act and other laws of our land without fear or favour. Your political affiliations will not save you. Even if John Mahama is your father, we will enforce the law,” he stated.
The CEO disclosed that the syndicate, which involved licensed GOLDBOD traders and foreign partners, was uncovered after weeks of surveillance.
Sammy Gyamfi revealed that intelligence received on August 26, 2025, led to the interception of a vehicle at Winneba Junction the following day, carrying gold from Tarkwa.
Smuggling syndicate worth $10 million uncovered by GoldBod
A Guinean courier, Abdul Razak, was arrested with three packs of gold weighing 8.5 kilogrammes at 92.5% purity, valued at over GH¢10.2 million.
Razak, recruited by his cousin Abdul Karim for GH¢500 per trip, had made four trips to Tarkwa in recent months.
Investigations traced the gold to NK Benak Enterprise, owned by licensed trader Bernard Nkroma.
Nkroma, Razak, and another accomplice, Arim Yao, were arrested and arraigned before a court on September 5, 2025.
Further probes identified Rafmoh Gold Limited, owned by shareholder Rafik Mohammed Nandoli (alias Salam), as the mastermind behind the network.
Despite lacking a GOLDBOD license, Rafmoh purchased 100 kilogrammes of gold between June and August 2025, valued at over GH¢120 million.
Sammy Gyamfi announced that the three suspects are currently facing trial, charged with offenses including dealing in gold without authorisation, facilitating smuggling, transporting gold without authorisation, and attempting to smuggle gold.
However, four others—Abdul Karim, Mohammed Afsal Putalan (an Indian national and Rafmoh’s Tarkwa operations manager), Sadiq Abubakar (transport handler), and Nandoli, remain at large.
Ghana GoldBod: What you need to know about the initiative
The CEO announced that GOLDBOD has placed a GH¢1 million bounty on each suspect and published their details; urging the public to assist in their capture.
As part of enforcement actions, he indicated that GOLDBOD has suspended NK Benak Enterprise’s license, closed its trading offices, and shut down Rafmoh’s gold trading office at Osu and its jewellery outlet at Palace Mall.
Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that the syndicate also engaged in illegal foreign exchange operations, using smuggled gold proceeds to supply dollars through black market networks and informal systems like mobile transfers and hawala.
The CEO emphasised collaboration with the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Interpol, and state security agencies to dismantle the syndicate and restore integrity to Ghana’s gold trade.
He urged licensed traders to strictly comply with permit conditions and called on the public to share information with GOLDBOD or the police to aid ongoing efforts.
GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi Esq. announces the arrest and prosecution of suspects linked to Rafmoh Gold Ltd. & NK Benark Enterprise. Over 100kg of gold worth GHS100M smuggled in 2 months. pic.twitter.com/INtxlibBBW
— Ghana GOLDBOD (@GhanaGOLDBOD) September 16, 2025
GA/VPO
Will Ghana pass the Anti-Witchcraft Bill? Find out in the latest episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV in this conversation with Amnesty International:
