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April 25, 2026
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‘Galamsey will lead to conflict over water if unchecked’ – Kwame Akuffo warns
Money
Policy
Key Points
- Private legal practitioner Kwame Akuffo warns that illegal mining (galamsey) is destroying Ghana's water bodies.
- He predicts this could lead to serious future conflicts over access to clean water, escalating beyond environmental damage to an existential threat.
- Akuffo characterizes the situation as a 'tragedy of the commons' stemming from unregulated sharing of depletable resources.
- The government is already burdened with significant financial costs for treating polluted water, which Akuffo argues is money it doesn't have.
- He criticizes the weak national response, poor leadership, and lack of decisive policy action in addressing galamsey.
Why This Matters
This article highlights a critical national security and public health crisis for Ghana. The ongoing destruction of water bodies by illegal mining not only threatens the fundamental right to clean water and public health but also poses a significant risk of future social conflict and places an increasing financial burden on the government, diverting resources from other essential services.
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GoldBod denies GH¢1bn BoG overdraft claim, demands retraction and apology from Boako
- The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has vehemently denied claims by MP Dr. Gideon Boako that it owes the Bank of Ghana (BoG) a GH¢1 billion overdraft.
- Dr. Boako, a Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, questioned GoldBod's reported GH¢907 million profit, stating an outstanding overdraft would reflect a loss.
- GoldBod labeled Dr. Boako’s claim as “totally false,” a “deliberate and malicious smear campaign,” and demanded a retraction and apology.
- This dispute is set against a broader political and economic debate concerning GoldBod’s financial performance and the accounting treatment of GH¢22 billion losses from the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
- GoldBod asserts it has never taken any loan, overdraft, or debt instrument from the Bank of Ghana or any financial institution since its establishment.
August 24, 2026
GoldBod losses remain key on Minority agenda as Parliament reconvenes – Afenyo-Markin
- The NPP Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, reaffirmed the caucus's commitment to investigate a reported US$1.7 billion loss linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
- This commitment was reiterated after Afenyo-Markin met with NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in Accra.
- Dr Bawumia commended the Minority Caucus for its accountability efforts and encouraged their continued work.
- The reported loss, equivalent to about 1.5% of Ghana’s GDP, will be a key issue for the Minority as Parliament reconvenes.
- The Minority is resolute in pursuing the matter to get answers for the Ghanaian public regarding the circumstances of the loss.
August 23, 2026
Why celebrate $2.62bn FDI while losing $1.7bn under the Domestic Gold Programme? IERPP asks
- The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) welcomes Ghana's US$2.62 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as a sign of investor confidence.
- However, IERPP tempers this optimism with concern over an estimated GH¢22 billion (US$1.7 billion) loss from the Domestic Gold Purchase Program (DGPP).
- The DGPP loss is significant, equating to about 65 cents for every US$1 of FDI attracted, highlighting a major resource management issue.
- IERPP emphasizes that while FDI is crucial, it cannot substitute for prudent management and protection of existing public resources.
- The Institute calls for greater transparency, a clear breakdown of DGPP losses, and intense scrutiny from accountability institutions, Parliament, and civil society.