In a fiery challenge that has sent shockwaves through the mining sector, Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has publicly questioned the government’s role in the galamsey gold trade, raising eyebrows over accountability and transparency.
Speaking in a bold statement, Oppong Nkrumah asked, “If the Ghana Bullion Depository (GoldBod) is not purchasing illegally mined gold, then who exactly is benefiting from this illicit trade?” His pointed remarks are fueling speculation that government loopholes may be enabling the very illegal mining the authorities claim to fight.
The minister’s interrogation comes amid mounting concerns about environmental destruction, revenue loss, and law enforcement gaps linked to the country’s illegal mining industry. Analysts say his comments could ignite a political and regulatory storm, forcing officials to explain where millions of dollars of galamsey gold are actually ending up.
With public frustration over illegal mining reaching a boiling point, Nkrumah’s question is striking a nerve: Who is profiting from galamsey gold—and why is the government seemingly powerless to stop it?


