Ghana's Precious Gold: Mahama's War With Galamsey | World Of Africa | WION

Summary

Ghana, Africa's top gold producer, has launched a national initiative to combat the growing smuggling of gold, an issue that has plagued the country for years. President John Mahama unveiled a task force composed of police, military, and officials to tackle illegal gold mining and black market activities, aiming to restore integrity and accountability to the gold sector. This action follows the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board, which manages gold transactions and exports. The move addresses significant economic losses and environmental damage, as an estimated $12 billion in gold has been smuggled out of the country over the last five years.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ghana, Africa's top gold producer, is combating illegal gold smuggling with a new national task force.
• 😀 The task force, created by President Ramani Mouhammer, includes police, officials, and soldiers.
• 😀 The initiative aims to tackle 'Galamzi,' a local term for illegal gold mining and smuggling.
• 😀 The illegal gold mining issue became a major topic during Ghana's last presidential election, triggering protests and criticism of the outgoing government.
• 😀 President John Mahama, in his return to office, prioritized addressing illegal gold mining and economic reform.
• 😀 The Goldbod task force is empowered to arrest and detain suspects and will work with the newly established Ghana Gold Board.
• 😀 The Ghana Gold Board, formed in January, is the sole legal entity responsible for overseeing gold transactions and exports from small-scale mining.
• 😀 It is estimated that $12 billion worth of gold has been smuggled out of Ghana over the last five years, leading to significant economic losses.
• 😀 The illegal gold industry has contributed to environmental damage, including pollution of rivers, worsening Ghana’s economic crisis.
• 😀 As part of the initiative, informants will receive 10% of the value of gold seized as a reward for tips leading to gold confiscations.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the new initiative launched by President Ramani Mouhammer in Ghana?

The primary focus of the initiative is to combat the growing smuggling of gold in the country. The president has launched a task force that includes police, officials, and soldiers to curb illegal gold trading.

What is 'Galamzi' and how does it relate to the issue of illegal gold mining in Ghana?

Galamzi refers to illegal gold mining in Ghana. It has been a major issue, contributing to environmental degradation and economic losses, and was a key topic during the presidential election.

Why was illegal gold mining a political issue during Ghana's election campaign?

Illegal gold mining, known as Galamzi, led to pollution of rivers and environmental damage, becoming a major concern for voters. It triggered protests and criticism of the outgoing government's handling of the issue.

What is the role of the new Goldbod task force in addressing the gold smuggling issue?

The Goldbod task force, comprising officers from various security agencies and the military, is empowered to arrest and detain suspects involved in illegal gold mining and smuggling. Its mission is to restore integrity, accountability, and value to Ghana's gold sector.

What is the Ghana Gold Board Agency, and how does it relate to the task force?

The Ghana Gold Board Agency, established in January, is the sole legal body responsible for managing all gold transactions and exports from small-scale mining companies. The task force works in conjunction with this agency to curb illegal mining and smuggling.

How much gold is estimated to have been smuggled out of Ghana in the last 10 years?

It is estimated that around 600 tons of gold have been smuggled out of Ghana over the last decade.

What financial impact has gold smuggling had on Ghana's economy?

Gold smuggling has resulted in approximately 12 billion US dollars leaving Ghana unaccounted for in the last five years, causing a significant loss in foreign exchange and negatively affecting the country's currency stability.

How does the task force plan to encourage public cooperation in the fight against illegal gold mining?

The task force offers financial incentives to informants, providing them with 10% of the value of gold seized due to their tips, to encourage public cooperation.

What environmental issues have arisen due to illegal gold mining in Ghana?

Illegal gold mining has caused significant environmental damage, including the pollution of rivers, destruction of water bodies, and general degradation of the land.

What promise did President John Mahama make during his election campaign regarding illegal gold mining?

President John Mahama promised to take strong action against illegal gold mining, and the creation of the Goldbod task force is part of his commitment to addressing the issue and restoring order to the gold sector.