Lands and Mines Watch Ghana (LMWG) has strongly defended the decision to license Bawa Rock Limited as an aggregator under the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) scheme, dismissing criticisms from the Minority Caucus in Parliament as misleading and politically driven.

In a statement issued in Accra on January 7, 2026, the mining sector watchdog acknowledged the importance of parliamentary oversight but cautioned that the Minority’s handling of the issue risks undermining confidence in ongoing reforms within Ghana’s gold trading and mining sector.

The statement, signed by the Executive Director of Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, Kwame Owusu Danso called on Parliament to support initiatives that promote transparency, sustainability, and growth in Ghana’s gold trading industry

LMWG stressed that Bawa Rock Limited is not a new or opportunistic entity taking advantage of recent policy changes, but a long-established indigenous company with extensive experience in Ghana’s extractive industry.

The group noted that the company has invested significantly in infrastructure, operational systems, and professional management in line with international best practices for precious metals trading.

Responding to claims that the licence granted to Bawa Rock creates a monopoly, LMWG described the assertion as a misrepresentation of the GoldBod framework.

The group explained that the system allows for multiple licensed operators across different categories, including aggregators, self-financing aggregators, and tiered buyers, all operating under a uniform, state-determined pricing structure.

“Under the GoldBod framework, it is only the state agency itself that operates as a monopoly,” the statement said, adding that no private licensed entity controls pricing or access to the market.

LMWG further highlighted Bawa Rock’s investment in modern assaying and foundry facilities, describing such capital-intensive infrastructure as critical to improving accuracy in gold valuation, protecting small-scale miners from underpricing, and enhancing Ghana’s credibility on the international gold market.

The watchdog group emphasised that the licence issued to Bawa Rock complied fully with the GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140), and aligns with national objectives such as improving traceability, curbing gold smuggling, and strengthening the formal gold purchasing system.

Criticising the Minority’s continued public focus on ownership structures and licensing procedures, LMWG warned that politicising the issue could discourage serious indigenous investment in the mining sector.

“While political debate is expected, industry must be allowed to function,” the group stated, urging responsible engagement to protect reforms aimed at long-term value creation.