By Valentia Tetteh
Parliament has passed the Ghana Gold Board Bill 2025, paving the way for the establishment of the Gold Board to regulate the gold industry. The board will oversee the purchase, sale, and export of gold to improve transparency, enhance traceability, and boost foreign exchange earnings to stabilize the cedi.
The bill was approved by a majority decision despite strong opposition from the Minority, who argued that it would promote illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Defending the bill, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga praised the bill as a landmark achievement, commending Parliament for working late into the night to pass it.
“Mr. Speaker, this is a historic piece of legislation. Those of us who worked through the night to see this through should be proud. We have justified the trust Ghanaians have placed in us. Indeed, the 24-hour economy has started right here in this chamber,” Ayariga stated.
Minority Walks Out in Protest
The passage of the bill followed a walkout by the Minority, who protested after First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor rejected their request to reconvene at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, to further debate the bill.
Speaking to journalists, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticized the government’s approach, questioning its commitment to fighting illegal mining. He raised concerns over the allocation of GH₵4.6 billion to the policy, arguing that the government is prioritizing galamsey over other pressing economic needs.
“We all know the struggles this country faces with galamsey. The same government that promised to fight it is now creating what is essentially a ‘Galamsey Board.’ Instead of investing in agriculture, women’s banking, and the 24-hour economy, they are channeling GH₵4.6 billion into galamsey operations.”
The Minority leader further argued that the government’s move to monopolize gold purchases from small-scale miners is contradictory to its anti-galamsey stance.
“How can you claim to be fighting galamsey while establishing an entity to regulate and fund it? This government is not serious about ending illegal mining.”
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