His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has appointed three distinguished professionals to the GoldBod Tribunals.

This was announced in a post shared on the authority’s official Facebook page yesterday, Tuesday, August 19. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ministry of Finance in Accra, where the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, swore in the members of the tribunal.

The tribunal members who were inaugurated are Biadela Mortey Akpadzi (Chairman), Hamidu Mariam (Member), and Justin Pwavra Teriwajah (Member). The tribunal has been charged with the task of “considering appeals regarding decisions made by the Gold Board, matters relating to licensing under the Act, and rulings of the Dispute Resolution Committee.”

According to the Minister, the move is under Section 55 of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), which outlines its composition, qualifications, and mandate. He further highlighted that the inauguration marks “a significant step in strengthening regulation and dispute resolution within the gold sector.”

In his message to the newly appointed members of the tribunal, he urged them to give their best, noting that the President appointed them based on his confidence in their competence. “The President has appointed three of you to serve as members of the tribunal in accordance with the law. He considers you competent for this important responsibility, and I congratulate you on your appointment,” Dr. Forson said.

He also assured that the government would soon appoint a registrar and support staff to facilitate the tribunal’s operations. Chairman of the Tribunal, Lawyer Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in them. “We will carry out our duties diligently and in the best interest of the nation,” he pledged.

The ceremony, held in Accra, brought together senior officials, including Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi, Board Chairman Kojo Fynn, and Board Member Dr. Abdul Basit Bamba.

Profile of the appointees

Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, the Chairman of the tribunal, is a seasoned legal practitioner and the founder of Deleric Law Consult, where he serves as a barrister, solicitor, and notary public. His legal career spans corporate law, litigation, and regulatory compliance, and he’s known for his commitment to justice and institutional integrity.

Hamidu Mariam is a distinguished lawyer with over two decades of experience. She was called to the Ghana Bar in 2003 and holds an LLM from the University of Pretoria. Her career includes roles as a Legal Researcher with the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, an intern at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and a State Attorney at Ghana’s Ministry of Justice. She’s also worked with the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah as a legal consultant.

Justin Pwavra Teriwajah is a practicing lawyer affiliated with Butu Law Centre in Accra. He was called to the Ghana Bar in October 2002 and specializes in areas such as administrative law, dispute resolution, commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, and international trade.

GoldBod is the official regulatory authority overseeing Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale gold sector. In a recent development, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) on Tuesday, July 29, handed over seventeen (17) gold bars valued at $1.7 million to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

At the Ministry of the Interior in Accra, the gold bars seized by officers of the Upper East Command of the Narcotics Control Commission at the Paga Border Post from two Burkinabe nationals who were attempting to smuggle them out of the country were received by the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi (Esq.).

The handing-over ceremony was witnessed by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs. Doreen Annan; the Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey; and other senior officials from NACOC and GoldBod.

This comes after the Acting Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi (Esq.), stressed that persons who engage in gold trading without GoldBod licenses after June 21 will be prosecuted. He made this clear during a meeting with the Chamber of Licensed Gold Buyers.

"As we have announced, by the 21st of this month, we shall ensure that only holders of GoldBod licenses are able to buy gold, and so if you are not licensed by the GoldBod, you cannot buy gold after June 21st. It will constitute a punishable offence to do so."

Mr. Gyamfi urged the gold buyers to forge partnerships that will boost compliance with the new GoldBod licensing regime. The acting CEO noted that the process for registering has been made seamless and free of corruption.

"We have removed the human interface element, and so there is no corruption, bribery, inducements, or favouritism. It is a very transparent and competitive process, and once you qualify, you get the license. I don’t take or demand bribes before I issue a license."

At the launch of a special Ghana Gold Board task force on July 8, Mr. Gyamfi pledged to sanction individuals who may abuse their authority, stressing that the task force must operate within the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.

According to him, the office has been equipped with the necessary resources to ensure smooth and effective execution of the task force’s mandate.

“Let me say that I have firm instructions to hold you to the highest standards of ethical conduct and accountability. We will protect those of you committed to doing your job, but we will deal ruthlessly with any member who brings the name of the government or the nation into disrepute.

“With the support of the president, we’ve provided the necessary orientation, training, logistics, and resources for the task force to operate effectively and fearlessly. We expect nothing but professionalism and patriotism from them,” he added.

Smuggling of gold has an adverse impact on the country’s economy. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has noted that Ghana lost an estimated $1.2 billion in gold revenue in 2022 due to illegal smuggling. President Mahama, at the same event, also cautioned the Ghana Gold Board task force against abusing their office to undertake unlawful activities.

"To the task force, let me be clear. Abuse of your authority will not be tolerated. If any of you is found engaging in misconduct, you will face immediate sanctions, and this could include dismissal, prosecution, and forfeiture of your entitlement," he said.

The task force will be given a special mandate with specific powers as police officers to wage war against smuggling and all forms of illegal gold trading activities in the country. According to Mr Sammy Gyamfi, this will save the government from revenue leakages in the sector, helping to generate and invest revenue for economic development.

“(This will) help the state combat and defeat the phenomenon of gold smuggling, the canker of illegal gold trading, and price disruptions that deprive the state of the needed revenue, profit, and the needed forex for our economy and the development of our country,” he announced.

The president has also announced the government's decision to provide an incentive to members of the general public who serve as whistleblowers to aid in clamping down on illicit gold-smuggling activities. President Mahama noted that informants are eligible to receive 10 per cent of the seized gold in cash value.

"So whistleblowers, get ready. If you blow the whistle on anybody and gold is retrieved or cash is received, you’d get 10 per cent of the value of both," he said.