Ghana's Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss Sammy Gyamfi as Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), after a viral video appeared to show him suggesting small-scale miners can operate without a licence outside protected areas.
The demand came in a press release dated October 23, 2026, signed by Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the MP for Mampong and Ranking Member of Parliament's Lands and Natural Resources Committee. According to GhanaWeb, the Minority described the alleged remarks as reckless and inconsistent with Ghana's mining laws, and gave Gyamfi a stark choice: resign or be fired.
What did Sammy Gyamfi actually say?
The controversy stems from a widely circulated video in which Gyamfi is alleged to have said small-scale mining operators could mine without a licence and the necessary permits, provided their operations were not in forest reserves, waterbodies or along roadsides. Asaase Radio reported that the remarks appear to conflict with the government's stated commitment to fighting illegal mining through stricter regulation and enforcement.
The Minority seized on the logic of that position with a pointed question. If location alone determines legality, where does it end?
Is Sammy Gyamfi and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party claiming that, with the exception of mining in forest reserves, waterbodies and by the roadside, galamsey operators can carry out their operations anywhere, including schools, churches, mosques, marketplaces, hospitals and even Ghana's Jubilee House, Parliament House and the Law Courts, with or without a small-scale mining licence?
That rhetorical flourish captures the caucus's core argument: legality in mining flows from licences and permits, not from geography.
What the Minerals and Mining Act says
The Minority grounded its position in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). Section 9(1) requires a person to obtain a mineral right before undertaking specified mineral-related activities. Section 82(1) goes further, stating that no person can engage in small-scale mining without a licence granted by the Minister responsible for Mines or an authorised officer.
The caucus acknowledged that the law permits the designation of areas for small-scale mining in the public interest, but stressed that such authority must be exercised in accordance with Section 89 of the Act. Mining activities must comply with legal requirements regardless of whether the operational area falls within a forest reserve or near a waterbody.
A political problem for the NDC government
The timing could hardly be more sensitive. President Mahama campaigned before the 2024 general elections on decisive action against galamsey, and the Minority argued that Gyamfi's alleged comments fall short of that pledge. For a party that promised voters a credible strategy, the appearance of its own GoldBod chief loosening the licence requirement is a liability.
The caucus said the remarks demonstrate the government lacks a credible plan to tackle illegal mining. It also questioned whether Gyamfi's position amounted to encouraging illegal miners to evade accountability under Ghana's regulatory framework, a serious charge given that GoldBod is a state institution central to Ghana's gold trading sector.
There is pushback, however. MyJoyOnline reported that the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has rejected claims that Gyamfi endorsed illegal mining, insisting his remarks were taken out of context. That defence may soften the political blow, but it has not stopped the Minority's momentum.
The Minority's full list of demands
Beyond Gyamfi's head, the caucus has put several concrete asks on the table.
- Gyamfi must resign voluntarily, or President Mahama must dismiss him immediately as GoldBod CEO.
- Gyamfi must issue an unqualified apology to the people of Ghana.
- The government must condemn and sanction his conduct.
- GoldBod's records must undergo a comprehensive audit to establish the traceability of gold purchases from mine to market and verify responsible sourcing practices.
- President Mahama must provide a clear roadmap for ending galamsey.
The audit demand matters beyond party politics. Ghana's gold sector is a pillar of the economy, and the country's standing with international buyers and investors depends on traceable, responsibly sourced gold. If GoldBod cannot demonstrate a clean chain of custody from mine to market, the reputational cost will be paid by legitimate miners, exporters and the treasury alike.
Why this matters for Ghana's economic agenda
Ghana's gold industry remains one of the country's strongest economic assets, and GoldBod was created to bring order, transparency and value retention to gold trading. A CEO embroiled in a galamsey controversy undermines that mission at exactly the moment investors and development partners are watching how Ghana balances enforcement with growth.
For the Ghanaian diaspora and international partners weighing investment in the mining value chain, regulatory clarity is everything. The Minority's citation of Act 703 is a reminder that the rules are on the statute books; the question is whether those in charge of enforcing them believe in them.
President Mahama now faces a choice that will define his galamsey record. Act decisively, and he reinforces the credibility of his 2024 campaign promises. Stall, and the opposition will keep asking whether his government's anti-galamsey fight is more rhetoric than resolve.
FAQ
Who is Sammy Gyamfi?
Sammy Gyamfi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), the state institution involved in Ghana's gold trading sector, and a prominent member of the National Democratic Congress.
What did the Minority demand?
In a statement dated October 23, 2026, the Minority demanded Gyamfi's resignation or dismissal as GoldBod CEO, an unqualified apology to Ghanaians, a comprehensive audit of GoldBod's records, and a clear roadmap from President Mahama for ending galamsey.
Does Ghanaian law allow mining without a licence?
No. Under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), Section 9(1) requires a mineral right before undertaking mineral-related activities, and Section 82(1) prohibits small-scale mining without a licence granted by the Minister responsible for Mines or an authorised officer.
Has GNASSM responded?
Yes. The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has rejected claims that Gyamfi endorsed illegal mining, saying his remarks were taken out of context, according to MyJoyOnline.