The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Taskforce has arrested six individuals for engaging in illegal gold trading and refining without a licence.
Of the six, one is an American and the other is a Moroccan; the remaining four are Ghanaians.
The six suspects have been identified as Smart Philander (American), Nina Elfseky (Moroccan), and four Ghanaians: Nana Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Sowa Elisha, Evans Arhin, and Arnold Otutey.
They were apprehended at the SSNIT Emporium near Marina Mall in Accra, following weeks of surveillance.
The Gold Board revealed “the group was caught attempting to purchase and assay approximately 2.1 kilograms of gold, valued at around GHC 2.2 million, without the authorisation required under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140)”.
During the GoldBod operation, gold refining equipment was found in the possession of the American suspect, which confirms their intent to refine gold illegally within Ghana.
The six have been arraigned before the court and are facing multiple charges including “Conspiracy to engage in gold trading without a licence; Engaging in gold trading and assaying without a licence; and Attempting to refine gold illegally — offences contrary to Sections 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and 26(1) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140)”.
In related news, the GoldBod CEO, Sammy Gyamfi Esq., has announced the arrest of three individuals in connection with a gold smuggling case.
The three suspects linked to Rafmoh Gold Ltd. & NK Benark Enterprise have been accused of smuggling 100 kilograms of gold, estimated to be worth GH¢100 million, out of the country over the past two months.
It will be recalled that Yesterday, September 17, 2025, the Goldbod issued a wanted notice for two Indian nationals and two Ghanaians over their alleged involvement in illegal gold smuggling and dealing.
The Ghana Gold Board placed a GH¢1 million bounty to be awarded for any credible information which would lead to their arrest.
Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, announced that the four are part of a group of seven individuals engaged in the illicit trade.
According to him, three of the seven suspects have been arrested and are in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, Mr. Gyamfi stated, “We have an arrest warrant for all of them; they are wanted by the police and the GoldBod.
If you have any information about them, you can report to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office. We have a bounty of GHC1 million on each of them”.
However, the Goldbod issued a fresh update on the GH¢1million bounty placed on four gold-smuggling suspects.
In a statement signed by Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer, the GoldBod apologised and issued a correction after mistakenly publishing the wrong photograph of a suspect.
The statement clarified that the image that accompanied the announcement of suspect Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq, also known as Salaam, was not accurate; however, it added that the details released about the suspect were accurate.
“The picture circulated was actually that of Mr Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director of International Operations at Malabar Gold and Diamonds,” the statement detailed.
They formally apologise to Mr Ahamed and Malabar Gold and Diamonds for any reputational harm caused.
The Goldbod has since released the correct photograph of Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq and also called on media houses that shared the wrong image to update their publications.
See the post below:
An American, a Moroccan, and four Ghanaians have been arrested at the SSNIT Emporium near Marina Mall, Accra, for engaging in illegal gold trading worth over GHS 2.2 million without a licence. pic.twitter.com/9FY8hE6mTw
— Ghana GOLDBOD (@GhanaGOLDBOD) October 7, 2025