Ghana could be losing significantly on her gold resources, as a new study shows that the West African state is already facing economic challenges and loses an egregious amount of gold through smuggling each year.
According to a statement issued by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, an organisation focused on tackling global threats posed by organised crime, over $1 billion worth of gold is illicitly trafficked out of Ghana annually.
This revelation emerged from a three-year study into illegal gold mining, locally known as galamsey.
Illegal Mining Spreads to New Frontiers
The report highlights the Savannah Region as an emerging epicenter for galamsey activities. While the Western and Ashanti regions remain long-standing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) hotspots, the Savannah Region has witnessed a significant uptick in recent years.
“Only 18% of sites surveyed in the Savannah Region were over ten years old, compared to about one-third in the Western Region,” the report disclosed.
This rise in activity, according to Marcena Hunter, Director of Extractives at the Global Initiative, directly correlates with the sharp increase in gold smuggling out of Ghana.
Criminal Infiltration and Structural Shifts
The study suggests that Ghana’s ASGM sector is undergoing a dramatic transformation, shaped by criminal networks, foreign interests and mounting environmental degradation.
“A new report, based on three years of fieldwork, satellite analysis and interviews, provides an evidence-based mapping of illicit mining, showing how informal operations are reshaping local economies, environments, and power structures,” the statement explained.
It also notes that the gold sector continues to evolve in complexity, with both licit and illicit operations expanding their footprint across Ghana.
To produce the report, the Global Initiative relied on advanced technological tools. Satellite imagery, remote sensing, and predictive modeling were deployed to track the rapid spread of illegal mining activities and anticipate future movements of alluvial gold operations.
“Remote sensing technologies were used to assess the spread, intensity and impact of mining activities,” the report said.
Foreign Nationals Driving Illegal Operations
A key finding of the investigation was the involvement of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese and Burkinabé, in illegal gold mining. The report cites them as major actors in introducing new methods, funding networks, and reshaping the supply chain.
“The injection of investment and technology, often by foreign nationals, particularly Chinese and Burkinabé is significantly shaping unlicensed mining operations, gold supply chains and financial flows,” the report explained.
Additionally, the study found that cyanide-based processing techniques introduced from neighboring countries are increasingly replacing traditional methods, posing further environmental and health risks.
The Global Initiative also drew attention to financial malfeasance within mining zones, particularly the potential use of gambling venues for laundering proceeds from illegal mining.“Casinos in Ghanaian mining areas present a high risk for money laundering,” the report noted.
Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking
Beyond environmental and economic harm, the study raised alarms about human rights abuses, especially the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women in galamsey areas.
“There is a worrying rise in the sexual exploitation of women in mining communities, with patterns consistent with trafficking,” the report emphasised.
Political Links and State Complicity
Perhaps most disturbingly, the report suggests possible links between illegal mining networks and political actors, pointing to a deeper crisis of governance and impunity.
“The future of Ghana’s gold sector is closely linked to evolving power dynamics and competition for control and profits from the sector,” it stated.
In its final remarks, the Global Initiative stressed the need to expose and dismantle the complex networks driving illegal gold mining.
“Exposing secretive networks of actors, activities, and supply chains is necessary to address challenges posed by illicit actors and markets that adapt rapidly to regulatory and market changes.”
The organization called for multifaceted and adaptive strategies, urging Ghana and its partners to strengthen enforcement, bolster regulation, and expand community involvement.
“Addressing criminality in the sector requires multifaceted, innovative, and adaptive approaches that build on existing efforts,” the report concluded.
