The Ghana Gold Board Taskforce has apprehended six individuals, including a US national, Smart Philander, and a Moroccan citizen, Nina Elfseky, along with four Ghanaians – Nana Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Sowa Elisha, Evans Arhin, and Arnold Otutey.
The arrests were made at the SSNIT Emporium near Marina Mall in Accra, following weeks of meticulous surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The suspects were intercepted while attempting to illicitly purchase and assay 2.1 kilograms of gold, valued at a substantial GHC2.2 million, without the requisite authorization.
The Taskforce discovered gold refining equipment in the possession of the American suspect, strongly suggesting their intention to engage in clandestine gold refining operations within Ghana’s jurisdiction.
Subsequently, the Ghana Gold Board has brought the suspects before an Accra court, charging them with conspiracy to engage in unlicensed gold trading, operating without a license, and attempting to refine gold illicitly. In a stern statement, the Board reaffirmed its unrelenting commitment to upholding the laws governing Ghana’s gold trade and marketing sector, cautioning that any attempts to circumvent these regulations would be met with the full force of the law.
As investigations continue, the Ghana Gold Board has assured the public that further updates will be provided as the case unfolds, underscoring its determination to maintain transparency and accountability in the country’s precious minerals sector.
