Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
President John Dramani Mahama has launched the GoldBod Taskforce with sweeping accountability and anti-corruption measures, marking a significant escalation in Ghana’s fight against illegal gold trading and mineral-related corruption.
In a bold policy shift aimed at restoring integrity to the mining sector, President Mahama announced that all taskforce officers will now be required to wear body cameras during every operation, while their vehicles will be tracked via GPS for real-time monitoring. These measures, he said, are designed to ensure strict oversight and transparency at all levels of the new unit’s operations.
“Every movement will be monitored, every action will be recorded,” the president emphasized during the inauguration ceremony at the National Security Secretariat on Tuesday, July 8. “This is not just a taskforce—it is a commitment to restore order and accountability in our extractive industry.”
The GoldBod Taskforce, comprised of elite personnel drawn from National Security, the Ghana Armed Forces, and other security agencies, has undergone extensive preparation. According to President Mahama, members were selected through a rigorous screening process that included background checks, lie detector tests, and in-depth training on the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 1040). Officers also received specialized instruction in anti-corruption strategies and high-risk operational conduct.
“No operation will take place without a signed warrant from the taskforce’s CEO,” Mahama declared, adding that this was to avoid unauthorized or rogue actions in the field.
The president also introduced a public incentive to aid in the fight against illegal mining. A whistleblower mechanism has been set up, offering a 10% cash or gold value reward to any citizen whose tip-off leads to the retrieval of illicit resources.
“This is a national call to action. We need the eyes and ears of the public to help root out this threat to our economy and our environment,” he urged.
By embedding accountability mechanisms from the onset, the GoldBod Taskforce is being positioned not just as an enforcement body but as a symbol of a broader policy shift—one that prioritizes transparency, public trust, and the responsible management of Ghana’s natural resources.
