The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the resignation or dismissal of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi over comments that it says suggest that small-scale miners could operate without the requisite licences and permits.
The Caucus has also demanded an unqualified apology from Mr Gyamfi, government sanctions and a clear roadmap from President John Dramani Mahama to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a statement issued by Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ranking Member of Parliament for the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, the Minority said the reported comments raise concerns about compliance with Ghana’s mining laws.
Also read: Exercise for urinary incontinence relief
“Mr. Sammy Gyamfi should resign immediately as CEO of GOLDBOD; failing that, he should be dismissed to restore the institution’s credibility,” the statement said.
The Caucus questioned the basis for allowing mining without the necessary licences and permits, asking whether similar operations would be permitted in schools, churches, mosques, marketplaces, hospitals, Jubilee House, Parliament and the law courts.
The Minority argued that Mr Gyamfi’s position contradicts the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), particularly Sections 9(1) and 82(1), which set out licensing requirements for mining activities.
It also cited Section 89, which allows the designation of areas for small-scale mining and requires such operations to comply with the law.
The Caucus has called on the government to publicly condemn the reported remarks and impose appropriate sanctions against the GoldBod CEO.
Beyond the controversy, the Minority has demanded a comprehensive audit of GoldBod’s documentation to establish whether gold purchases can be traced from the mine to the market and whether transactions meet responsible-sourcing requirements.
The statement called for an audit “to verify traceability of all gold purchases, from mine to market to establish responsible sourcing practices.”
The Caucus also urged President Mahama to present a clear roadmap for ending galamsey, saying the government must fulfil its commitments to Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 general elections.
It further called for a state of emergency to be declared in areas identified as high-risk galamsey hotspots.
Another demand is the formalisation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) through a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to provide a legal framework for its establishment and operations.
The Minority appealed to civil society organisations, political parties, religious leaders, traditional authorities, media houses, professional bodies, trade unions and other stakeholders to condemn what it described as Mr Gyamfi’s reckless comments.
It also urged the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and the Ghana Chamber of Mines to demand accountability from the government.
The Caucus said its demands are necessary to protect GoldBod’s credibility, enforce mining laws and strengthen Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining.