Source: newsthemegh.com
Ghana is considering a number of countermeasures to stop the smuggling of gold in an effort to maintain the gold-for-oil policy.
According to Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, those who expose smugglers will soon be rewarded with gold. The goal is to stop the flow of gold leaving the nation and make sure the Bank of Ghana has enough gold on hand to exchange for affordable petroleum.
Dr. Prempeh stated his opinion that the program’s viability will be increased by using Ghanaians as watchdogs against gold smuggling. He suggested a 20% gold reward for tips that result in arrests; this suggestion is being considered for official policy implementation.
We’re stating that whomever tips us off, informs us who’s smuggling gold, and helps us make an arrest will receive 20% of the gold. He continued: “I believe that nobody makes 20% of this entire business, the person who is coming to buy the gold doesn’t make 20%, and I’m sure they’ll come up very soon.”
Therefore, he explained, “if Ghanaians who are currently helping them to smuggle the gold can benefit from 20%, [it’ll curb the smuggling]”.
“The level that is being exported to lobby is gradually tipping, so, we might come up formally and announce that policy,” he remarked on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central.