GoldBod rebrand is worsening Galamsey- Jerry Shaib
The Minority in Parliament has criticized the government’s decision to rebrand the Precious Minerals Marketing Company as GoldBod, arguing that the move is worsening the illegal mining crisis and accelerating environmental damage across the country.
Contributing to the debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, said the restructuring has created uncertainty within the gold sector and weakened the oversight needed to fight illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
According to him, the government appears more focused on changing the names of institutions rather than addressing the deeper problems confronting the mining sector.
“All that this government knows how to do is rebranding. PMMC was changed to GoldBod, and now even the Finance Minister is giving it another name. What are they doing? They are encouraging galamsey,” he told the House.
Mr Shaib warned that illegal mining activities are spreading quickly and leaving serious environmental damage in their wake. He noted that forests and water bodies are increasingly being destroyed, while communities in mining areas are facing growing risks.
He cited reports of environmental degradation in Bole, the hometown of President John Dramani Mahama, where abandoned mining pits have reportedly become dangerous traps for residents.
“If we don’t take care, including yourself, Mr Speaker, you may not be found alive in the next 20 years,” he cautioned, highlighting the long-term environmental and health risks associated with the galamsey problem.
The Deputy Minority Chief Whip also raised concerns about the possible impact of illegal mining on the country’s energy supply. He referred to reports that silt from galamsey activities is affecting the turbines at the Bui Dam, which he warned could threaten electricity generation.
Describing the issue as a national security concern, Mr Shaib accused some local authorities in mining areas of failing to take firm action against illegal miners.
“We are trading 24-hour electricity for a few bars of gold. DCEs and MCEs in these mining areas are all involved in galamsey,” he alleged.
Beyond the environmental concerns, he also questioned the financial management of GoldBod and criticised what he described as misplaced priorities in the handling of Ghana’s gold resources.
“All we think about is we mine gold, sell, and make profits to send some sets of women to London to go and chill with them. Mr Speaker, this is what is happening. This is the kind of settings that we are dealing with. Settings everywhere under the leadership of President Mahama,” he added.
Mr Shaib further raised concerns about the management of Ghana’s gold reserves by the Bank of Ghana. He questioned the decision to sell 18 tonnes of gold valued at about $2.22 billion, only for plans to emerge to buy back the same amount at an estimated cost of $3.4 billion.
“Who is taking the US$1.2 billion profit?” he asked, suggesting the transaction could result in major losses for the state.
The Minority has therefore urged the government to go beyond institutional restructuring and take decisive action to tackle illegal mining by enforcing existing laws, strengthening regulatory bodies and holding public officials accountable.
Mr Shaib warned that without urgent intervention, the continued spread of galamsey could further damage Ghana’s environment, weaken economic stability and threaten the livelihoods of many communities.
About The Author
