New GoldBod taskforce to wear body cameras – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has launched a new national initiative—the GoldBod Taskforce—tasked with cracking down on illegal gold smuggling and corruption in Ghana’s mining sector. The president made the announcement at an official inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday, July 8, at the National Security Secretariat.

A key feature of the taskforce’s operations, Mahama revealed, will be the mandatory use of body cameras by all officers during field missions to ensure transparency and public accountability.

“Every member of the task force will operate under strict oversight. All officers will wear body cameras in every operation they undertake,” the president said.

The taskforce is composed of selected officers from the National Security, Ghana Armed Forces, and other strategic security agencies. According to Mahama, each officer has undergone thorough background checks, polygraph tests, intensive anti-corruption training, and orientation on the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 1040). Team-building and operational readiness training were also emphasized to prepare them for high-risk assignments.

“This taskforce is not just symbolic. The inauguration of the GoldBod Taskforce signals our readiness to act decisively,” he declared.

To enhance operational integrity, the president announced that no taskforce member will be permitted to engage in a field operation without a written warrant signed by the taskforce’s Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, all operational vehicles will be fitted with GPS tracking systems to monitor movement in real time.

In a strong appeal to public cooperation, President Mahama introduced a whistleblower incentive: any individual who reports illegal gold activity leading to the recovery of gold or money will receive 10 percent of the value seized.

“Whistleblower channels are in place. If you blow the whistle and gold or cash is retrieved, you will receive 10% of the value,” he emphasized.

The GoldBod Taskforce forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader efforts to strengthen governance, enforce mining laws, and restore order in the extractive sector.