Recent remarks by leading figures within the opposition front, particularly Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, predicting an impending scandal and possible downfall of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), have brought renewed attention to warnings by the General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, about a “very powerful movement” allegedly working against the institution.
The Archbishop has called on Ghanaians to pray for GoldBod, warning that powerful interests opposed to efforts to sanitise Ghana’s gold sector could undermine the state institution.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, August 16, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said individuals who had previously benefited from illegal channels for purchasing Ghanaian gold were increasingly seeking alternative means to access the country’s gold as controls on illicit trading were tightened.
According to him, he had received calls from individuals in countries where Ghanaian gold was previously traded through the black market, with some allegedly seeking connections to senior officials who could facilitate access to gold through GoldBod.
“They can’t get the gold like before illegally, so they want some channels to the Gold Board so they can purchase the gold now from the Gold Board,” he said.
‘Powerful Movement’
The Archbishop’s comments come at a time when some leading figures have launched strong criticisms against GoldBod, raising questions about its financial performance and the sustainability of its operations.
Among the critics are former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry and Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
In the case of Mr Afenyo-Markin, he claimed that GoldBod’s operations could become the subject of a major scandal, suggesting that there were aspects of the institution’s operations that were not publicly known.
“GoldBod is a very big scandal awaiting us. There are things we know that they don’t know. They should be careful,” the Effutu MP warned.
He also accused GoldBod of failing in its operations, citing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which he claimed showed losses of more than US$1.7 billion from the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the alleged losses raised serious concerns about the performance and financial sustainability of the programme being implemented through GoldBod.
He insisted that the figure was not his personal assessment but was contained in the IMF’s report on Ghana.
“GoldBod is failing. The IMF is saying. I am not the one saying. It is the IMF saying it has incurred over GH¢1.7 billion,” he said.
However, Archbishop Duncan-Williams’ warning points to a different dimension of the controversy, with the preacher suggesting that GoldBod may be facing opposition from highly influential players with extensive knowledge of Ghana’s gold industry and substantial financial resources.
“It’s clear to me that the Gold Board is dealing with a very powerful movement—people very, very established who know and understand the field and how to do this and don’t want the right thing to be done,” he said.
He expressed concern that the tightening of controls on illegal gold purchases could be disrupting established networks that previously benefited from illicit gold trading.
The Archbishop further recounted an encounter with members of a ruling family in a Middle Eastern country, during which he said he was informed that the volume of Ghanaian gold entering the country through illegal channels was three times greater than the amount officially recorded by the Ghanaian government as sold to that country.
The revelation, he said, deeply disturbed him. “It disturbed me. It really broke my heart,” he recounted.
He alleged that the individuals involved in the illegal gold trade were highly influential and had substantial financial resources, making the fight against illicit trading particularly difficult.
Galamsey Threat
Archbishop Duncan-Williams also linked the illegal gold trade to the broader environmental consequences of illegal mining, particularly the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and farmlands.
He warned that the continued exploitation of the country’s natural resources could threaten food production and have serious consequences for Ghana’s future.
He therefore cautioned against allowing political considerations to undermine the enforcement of laws intended to protect the country’s resources.
The Archbishop urged Ghanaians to devote time to praying for Ghana and GoldBod as the institution seeks to regulate the gold trade, strengthen controls and address illegal activities within the sector.
“We need to intercede for our country,” he said.
