Mahama Unveils GoldBod Taskforce, Offers 10% Reward to Whistleblowers

President John Dramani Mahama has launched a bold initiative to combat illegal gold smuggling, promising financial incentives for whistleblowers who provide actionable intelligence.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly formed GoldBod Taskforce on Tuesday, July 8, at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, President Mahama announced that anyone who provides credible information leading to the recovery of illegal gold or its monetary equivalent will receive 10% of the seized assets. “Whistleblower channels are in place,” he said. “If you blow the whistle and gold or money is recovered, you will get 10%.”

The GoldBod Taskforce, he noted, is composed of carefully selected personnel from the National Security, the military, and other security agencies. These officers have undergone rigorous training, including polygraph tests, legal orientation on the Minerals and Mining Act, 2016 (Act 703, as amended by Act 1040), and anti-corruption education.

To ensure transparency and accountability, Mahama revealed that all operations will be subject to strict oversight. Officers will wear body cameras, and all taskforce vehicles will be GPS-tracked and monitored in real-time. Furthermore, no operation can proceed without a written warrant from the CEO, reinforcing the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct.

This initiative underscores Mahama’s determination to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources and eliminate corruption in the extractive sector.