President John Mahama has mandated strict oversight protocols for Ghana’s newly launched GoldBod Task Force, requiring body cameras on all operations and real-time GPS vehicle tracking to combat corruption in gold smuggling interdiction.
Announcing the measures at the July 7 task force inauguration in Accra, Mahama emphasized transparency: “Every officer will wear body cameras; all vehicles will be GPS-monitored.” Field missions now require written authorization from the task force CEO. The unit—drawn from national security, military, and police—targets illegal mining and gold smuggling, with members undergoing polygraph tests and anti-corruption training.
Whistleblowers providing credible tips leading to asset seizures will receive 10% of recovered gold or cash value. The president framed the tech-driven accountability as essential for public trust, aligning with broader resource sovereignty reforms. GoldBod’s launch follows Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson’s revelation that $1.2 billion in gold was smuggled in 2022.
Full operations begin in coming weeks, supporting Ghana’s push for domestic mineral value addition, including its planned 2026 ISO-certified assay lab.
