Manhunt Launched for Gold Smugglers as GH¢1m Bounty Placed on Four Fugitives

By Joylinda Laryea / 16 September 2025

The Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) have launched a nationwide manhunt for four individuals suspected to be involved in a high-level gold smuggling syndicate.

At a press conference held in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, revealed that a GH¢1 million bounty has been placed on each of the four remaining suspects, urging the public to assist in their arrest.

“We have an arrest warrant for all of them; they are wanted by the police and the GoldBod. If you have any information about them, you can report to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office. We have a bounty of GH¢1 million on each of them,” Gyamfi announced.

The suspects still at large are identified as Abdul Karim, Sadique Abubakar, Muhammed Afsal Puth Puthalan, and Muhammed Nandoli Rafeeq. They are believed to be part of a seven-member group engaged in the illegal export of gold, a practice that continues to undermine Ghana’s economy and mineral governance efforts.

Three other suspects have already been apprehended and are currently in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), as investigations intensify.

Authorities are calling on the general public, especially those in the mining and trading communities, to volunteer any information that could lead to the swift arrest of the remaining suspects. The Gold Board and police say confidentiality and protection are guaranteed for informants.

The crackdown comes amid a broader effort by the government to clamp down on illicit mining and smuggling activities that result in significant revenue loss and environmental degradation.