Security consultant Professor Kwesi Aning, has alleged that an international network of organised crime groups is laundering illegally acquired money through Ghana.
Speaking on the Saturday, October 11, 2025, edition of JoyNewsFile, the security consultant, citing research findings, noted that a branch of the Italian mafia network is taking advantage of illegal gold mining and trading in Ghana to launder money.
“There are two studies, several studies, in fact. One shows that a group from Italy, an Italian mafia, brings in enough dirty money to buy gold. This is free consultancy for the national security and the financial intelligence agency; one Italian mafia group brings in dirty money to buy gold, takes it, sells it elsewhere, cleans the money, and takes it back to Europe. That is number one,” he stated while answering a question on whether the security issues arising from illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, could lead to the terrorisation of Ghanaians or militia activities in the country.
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He noted that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, which the current government has established to lead the fight against galamsey, is bound to face fierce resistance from organised criminal groups who are the beneficiaries of illegal mining and minerals trade.
“Number two; we know, and it is proven beyond doubt, that with the exception of Mali, Ghana is the second-largest gold-producing country where the leakages are massive. Now, I think Elikem might be able to tell us, but initial calculations show that about 2 to 2.5 billion dollars worth of illicit small-scale gold oozes out of the system every year. This leads to organised criminal groups having an interest in ensuring that whatever NIAMOS is achieving right now will be resisted, and I can tell you that there is going to be resistance,” he added.The claim by the security analyst comes on the heels of recent concerns about the state of illegal mining in Ghana and calls for the government to take further measures to address the menace.
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