Ing Wisdom Edem Gomashie
Mining consultant, Ing. Wisdom Edem Gomashie, has taken on CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, describing the institution as nothing more than a “state-sponsored galamsey vehicle.”
His response follows Gyamfi’s recent media interview in which he defended GoldBod’s mandate and dismissed suggestions that the Board is fueling illegal mining.
Ing. Gomashie argued that Gyamfi’s position is inconsistent with his long-standing criticisms of galamsey under the previous administration.
“You admit galamsey has been with us for decades, yet you once toured mining communities and accused former President Akufo-Addo of being the cause of galamsey in Ghana,” Gomashie said. “You even wrote to the UN, pushing for his removal as SDG Co-Chair. Should we now apply the same standard to President Mahama because of GoldBod?”
He accused Gyamfi of shifting the goalposts, recalling how he once labeled Ghana’s economy under the NPP as a “galamsey economy,” yet now insists that GoldBod—backed by government—should not be associated with the menace.
According to Gomashie, GoldBod’s operations risk exposing Ghana to international reputational damage. “Should we write to the OECD, UN, and World Gold Council to declare Ghana’s output as ‘dirty gold’? If we follow your logic, that may be the consequence,” he warned.
The consultant maintained that while illegal mining predates both administrations, the country must hold every government-backed institution accountable. “GoldBod deserves no applause unless it proves it is genuinely fixing the problem. Otherwise, history will judge it as part of the crisis, not the solution,” he stressed.
