Three Remanded over Illegal Gold Trade and Smuggling in Obuasi

His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, presiding judge of the Circuit Court Accra, on Thursday remanded three individuals into custody for involving in alleged illegal gold trading and smuggling activities.

The accused – Appiah John (22), a student; Emmanuel Arthur (32), a miner; and Wei Huasheng (43), a Chinese national and businessman – are facing multiple charges under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

These include trading gold without lawful authority, smuggling of gold, hoarding of gold, and transporting gold without proper documentation.

The plea of the accused persons was not taken during the court proceedings.

Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Jacob Maalo Kuubal Esq. prayed the court for the accused to be remanded, a motion which was granted. A bail application by defense counsel was dismissed by the court. The matter has been adjourned to July 3, 2025.

Details of Charges

Count One: Trading Gold Without Lawful Authority
According to the prosecution, all three accused were found engaging in the gold trade on June 24, 2025, at the Council Quarters area in Obuasi, without authorization from the Ghana Gold Board, contrary to Section 26(1 & 5) of Act 1140.

Count Two: Smuggling of Gold
Wei Huasheng, specifically, is charged with smuggling gold out of Ghana using unauthorized means, violating Section A5(142) of the Ghana Gold Board Act.

Count Three: Hoarding of Gold
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Huasheng illegally hoarded gold for purposes of export, a violation of Sections 63(1 & 5) of the same Act.

Count Four: Unauthorized Transportation of Gold
Mr. Huasheng is also accused of transporting gold from illegal trade sites without requisite documentation, in breach of Sections 66(1 & 6) of Act 1140.

Background and Arrest

The arrests were made following an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Gold Board task force. Acting on reports of illegal foreign involvement in the gold trade, officers moved to the Council Quarters area in Obuasi, where they apprehended the accused engaging in unlawful gold transactions.

A search on Appiah John revealed a yellowish metal suspected to be gold, weighing approximately 30 grams.

Emmanuel Arthur was found with 34 pellets of a similar substance, with a provisional weight of 102.9 grams. All three were arrested and taken to the NSCS for further investigation.

Initial findings indicate none of the accused had the required licenses or authority to trade or possess gold. Further inquiries revealed that Wei Huasheng and other unnamed Chinese nationals are suspected to be part of a broader smuggling network operating in Ghana.

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