President John Dramani Mahama has instructed all members of the newly inaugurated GoldBod Taskforce to operate under strict oversight, including the mandatory use of body cameras during every operation, as part of sweeping accountability measures in Ghana’s crackdown on illegal gold mining and smuggling.
Addressing the task force on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, President Mahama said, “Every member of the task force will operate under strict oversight. All officers will wear body cameras in every operation they undertake.”
The President emphasized that the move is aimed at ensuring transparency, professionalism, and public trust in the operations of the task force.
President Mahama further added that all vehicles used by the task force will be GPS-tracked and monitored in real time, with written authorization from the CEO required before any field mission is carried out.
The GoldBod Taskforce, composed of personnel from the National Security, military, and other law enforcement agencies, is tasked with tackling illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), gold smuggling, and other extractive sector malpractices.
To reinforce accountability, the team has undergone extensive vetting, polygraph testing, and anti-corruption training.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to protect Ghana’s buoyant natural resources under its 24-hour economy agenda.
As part of strategies to maximize the full potential of the GoldBod, President Mahama announced that whistleblowers who provide credible information leading to the recovery of illegal gold or cash equivalents will receive 10% of the seized assets as a reward.
