The Ghana Gold Board, in collaboration with National Security, has arrested three Indian nationals for engaging in illegal gold trading.
The suspects were arrested in Anyinam in the Eastern Region, and items seized included gold bars, stacks of cash, and money counting machines.
This brings the total number of foreigners arrested to six following an earlier one on April 29, 2025.
The first batch of three suspects was arrested in the Ashanti Region before the enforcement of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
Prince Minkah, spokesperson for the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), during a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, May 14, disclosed that the first group will be deported since their arrest occurred before the April 30 deadline for foreigners to exit Ghana's local gold trade.
"They will be repatriated to their home country to reunite with their families," Prince Minkah stated.
He noted that the second batch of three suspects arrested in Anyinam will face prosecution under the new law, which reserves local gold trading exclusively for the Gold Board. Authorities confiscated gold counting machines and cash (USD) from them.
Mr Minkah stressed that the Ghana Gold Board Act strictly prohibits foreign nationals from participating in Ghana's local gold trade.
"If you're a foreigner and caught trading gold illegally, you will face the law," he warned.
While the first group was given leniency because their arrest preceded the deadline, the second group will face the full rigors of the law.
The GoldBod, in a statement, announced that beginning May 1, 2025, all foreigners and individuals have been banned from trading in the local gold market in Ghana.