Over the last few months, GoldBod has received a growing number of visitors. We have seen foreign governments and institutions, local organizations, groups, and individuals visiting the institution.
GoldBod has proudly shared many of these visits publicly. The international visits show strong interest in Ghana’s new gold governance model. They can also help position GoldBod internationally.
But there is a point where the volume of visits should concern us.
GoldBod is a young institution still finding its feet. Its leadership has a regulatory institution to build, strategies to implement, systems to develop, and an industry to regulate. A high volume of visits can take substantial work hours from the same executives expected to do this work.
I call this 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲.
GoldBod is showcasing a governance model that is still in its infancy. There are reputational risks in extensively promoting a model before it has been tested over time. Operational challenges, regulatory gaps, or policy difficulties may still emerge as the institution develops.
This concern does not mean GoldBod should close its doors to visitors. The visits should be highly selective. Those with clear institutional, technical, diplomatic, or economic value can be accommodated.
Other visits do not necessarily require the attention of the CEO and senior executives. GoldBod has corporate communications and public relations personnel who can manage many of these engagements without taking senior leadership away from its core work.
Ghana has mined gold for well over 100 years and remains one of the world’s major gold-producing countries. GoldBod does not need a continuous stream of visitors to establish its legitimacy.
Let us spend the time to build the institution, enforce the regulations, and strengthen the systems. The results will build the reputation.
GoldBod is a regulatory institution; it is not a show house.
Kenneth Bansah, PhD, PE
