- Three suspects connected to a major gold smuggling syndicate were arraigned in the High Court and granted bail.
- Abdul Razak Seidu was initially caught with 9.2 kg of gold valued at GH¢ 10.2 million.
- Bernard Nkrumah of NK Bernak Enterprise and Ibrahim Aremeyaw of RAFMOH Gold Ltd were also arrested.
- RAFMOH Gold Ltd allegedly orchestrated purchases of over 100 kg of gold in two months, worth more than GH¢ 100 million.
- The suspects face charges for unauthorized facilitation and transportation of gold.
- Four other fugitives remain at large, with GH¢ 1 million bounties offered for information leading to their arrests.
- Licences for NK Bernak Enterprise and RAFMOH Jewellery have been suspended and offices closed.
- GoldBod emphasizes strict prosecution of illegal gold trading to restore integrity to Ghana’s gold market.
Three suspects linked to a major gold smuggling syndicate in Ghana have been arraigned in the High Court and granted bail after two weeks in custody. The arrests were made following intelligence from a whistleblower, prompting the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to launch an investigation into the illegal trade.
The probe began on August 27, 2025, when Abdul Razak Seidu was apprehended at Winneba Junction with roughly 9.2 kilograms of gold valued at around GH¢ 10.2 million. The case has been described as the most sophisticated gold smuggling operation GoldBod has encountered since its inception.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrests of Bernard Nkrumah, a licensed gold buyer operating as NK Bernak Enterprise in Tarkwa, and Ibrahim Aremeyaw, a business associate of RAFMOH Gold Ltd. The syndicate allegedly involved RAFMOH Gold Ltd as the main orchestrator, with evidence suggesting the purchase of over 100 kilograms of gold from NK Bernak Enterprise in the past two months, worth more than GH¢ 100 million.
The three suspects face charges for facilitating and transporting gold without proper authorization. While bail has been granted, the conditions remain pending. Authorities continue to pursue four other individuals believed to be involved: Rafeeq Mohammed Nandoli (aka Salam), Muhammed Afsah Puthalan, Abdul Karim, and Sadique Abubakar. GoldBod has issued arrest warrants for each and offered a GH¢ 1 million reward for information leading to their capture.
In a bid to curb illegal activities, GoldBod has suspended the licence of NK Bernak Enterprise and closed its Tarkwa offices. Similarly, RAFMOH Jewellery’s outlet at Palace Mall in Accra has been shut down due to its connection with the syndicate.
GoldBod has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of Ghana’s gold trade, warning that anyone caught smuggling, hoarding, or trading gold illegally will face strict legal action.
