News
Gold Board places GH¢1 million bounty on suspected gold smugglers
The Ghana Gold Board has announced a GH¢1 million bounty on each of four fugitives believed to be behind a major gold smuggling syndicate.
Chief Executive of the Board, Sammy Gyamfi, told journalists in Accra that the syndicate is the most elaborate uncovered since the Gold Board was established.
He said the suspects identified as Rafik Mohamed Nandoli, also known as “Salaam,” Indian national Afsar Puthalan, and two Ghanaians, Abdul Karim and Sadiq Abubakar played key roles in moving large quantities of gold out of the country illegally.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, the syndicate financed licensed traders and used couriers to buy gold in mining areas.
The gold was then transported to Accra, where it was smuggled across borders into Togo and other destinations.
He revealed that investigations showed that Rafmore Gold Limited, owned by Salaam, had bought over 100 kilograms of gold worth more than GH¢120 million between June and August 2025, even though the company was not licensed by the Gold Board.
The Chief Executive explained that the syndicate’s operations were uncovered following a tip-off in August this year.
On August 27, 2025, a courier, Abdul Razak, was arrested at Winneba Junction with three packs of gold weighing 8.5 kilograms, valued at about GH¢10.2 million at the time. Razak confessed to being recruited by his cousin, Abdul Karim, and admitted to transporting gold for just GH¢500 per trip.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a licensed trader, Bernard Nkrumah of NK Benak Enterprise, and a Chinese national, Arin Liao. The three were arraigned in court on 5th September 2025 and later granted bail with strict conditions.
Mr. Gyamfi confirmed that Rafmore Gold Limited and NK Benak Enterprise had since been shut down, and their licenses suspended.
He warned that any licensed gold dealer who sold gold without proper receipts, or to unapproved persons, would face suspension, fines, or criminal prosecution.
He stressed that the Board was determined to fight illegal gold trading without fear or favor, regardless of the individuals’ political connections or influence.
“We are working with Interpol and national security agencies to track the four suspects, who we believe are hiding in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Dubai, or Togo,” he said.
He urged the public to assist by providing credible information that could lead to the arrest of the fugitives, noting that hotlines had been provided for this purpose.
Mr. Gyamfi assured that the suspects already in custody would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while the Board continues its efforts to protect Ghana’s gold resources from criminal networks.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Special Envoy for Reparations is urging closer collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and it’s agencies to drive the reparations agenda through tourism and heritage, with plans to raise $100 million to restore the nation’s forts and castles.
The Deputy Minister, Yussif Issaka Jajah, welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to restoring Ghana’s forts and castles, following concerns raised by UNESCO over deteriorating conditions noting that despite funding challenges and stalled rehabilitation efforts, the Ministry is prepared to partner in mobilising resources to restore heritage sites and strengthen tourism.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to restoring Ghana’s forts and castles despite funding setbacks, pledging to collaborate in mobilising resources to protect heritage and boost tourism.
Members of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) are attending the 2026 African Languages Conference in Accra, held as part of African Languages Week (February 21–28, 2026).
The two-day hybrid conference, hosted at the ISSER Conference Hall at the University of Ghana, is organised by African Languages Inc, to promote language justice, cultural preservation, and digital rights across Africa and the diaspora.
Under the theme “Language Justice: African Languages for Social and Economic Development,” the conference brings together writers, scholars, policymakers, technologists, educators and community leaders to advance the use of African languages in education, governance, economic planning and digital innovation.
