Two Nigerian nationals arrested for allegedly engaging in unauthorized gold trade activities in Ghana have each been granted GH¢30,000 bail with one surety by the Accra Circuit Court 6, presided over by His Honour Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah.
The accused, Abubakari Mumuni, 28, and Dauda Salifu, 33 — both self-identified gold merchants — are facing two charges: Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and Trading in Gold Without Authority, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 63(2) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jacob M. Kuubal, Esq., the arrests were the result of a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving personnel from the Ghana Gold Board, Ghana Police Service, and Ghana Armed Forces, acting on a tip-off from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
The first suspect, Abubakari Mumuni, was apprehended on June 13, 2025, in Wassah-Saha, a community located in Ghana’s Western Region, known for its informal gold trade. Upon his arrest, security operatives recovered four yellowish metallic pellets, believed to be gold, with a total weight of approximately 4.6 grams, along with GH¢29,150 in cash.
Preliminary investigations suggest the money was the remainder of a transaction with unidentified illegal gold miners in the area. Following his detention, Mumuni reportedly identified Dauda Salifu as his associate in the unlicensed gold trading operation. Salifu was subsequently arrested and linked to similar transactions.
Investigators have since confirmed that neither of the accused held the requisite licenses or permits issued by the Ghana Gold Board, which is the regulatory body mandated to oversee lawful gold trade activities in the country.
When the two men were brought before the court but, their pleas were not taken, as investigations remain ongoing.
The case has been adjourned to July 17, 2025, to allow the prosecution to continue its inquiries and prepare the case.
