The Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) has officially debunked allegations of gold smuggling following a violent disruption of its operations at the National Assay Centre by a mob on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
According to a statement issued by PMMC Corporate Affairs, the incident involved a group led by Mr. Joseph Yammin, the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who forcibly attempted to seize bullion bars being processed for the Bank of Ghana. The standoff, which lasted from late afternoon until midnight at the Aviance Cargo Terminal, eventually required police intervention. To ensure the safety of the precious minerals, the bullion was moved to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for safekeeping overnight.
The PMMC clarified that the gold bars in question are part of the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Program, which has been in operation since June 2021, and were undergoing routine assaying to confirm their weight, purity, and value. The company further noted that a private, licensed exporter was also caught up in the incident, with their legitimate export gold being seized alongside the central bank’s bullion.
Management described the allegations of secret smuggling by political actors as entirely false and regrettable, warning that such unlawful actions pose a significant risk to the safety of staff and threaten Ghana’s reputation as a transparent and trusted player in the international bullion market.
The PMMC emphasized that the situation could have been avoided through simple verification with the relevant authorities and reiterated its commitment to upholding the integrity of the nation’s precious minerals industry..
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
