Jewellery Not Confiscated At KIA For Gold-For-Oil Policy

Management of Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) has rubbished allegation that personal ornaments, such as rings and bangles, belonging to private individuals, are being confiscated at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) by security operatives ostensibly for government’s Gold-for-Oil (G4O) policy.

The PMMC, in a press release dated, March 21, 2023 and issued by the Corporate Planning Directorate, said as an implementing agency for the G4Opolicy, “there is therefore absolutely no basis for the allegation.”

The release, copied The Anchor, explained that there is an inter-agency team coordinating the execution of the gold for oil initiative and, therefore, has not given any directives to security operatives at the KIA to confiscate jewellery of any individuals for the implementation of the policy.

According to PMMC, there are adequate supplies of gold dore in the system to meet and sustain the Gold for Oil Policy and, therefore, as an implementing agency for the policy does not need to confiscate ornaments of people for the initiative to succeed.

“There is an inter-agency team coordinating the implementation of the G4O policy with monthly review sessions. No directives whatsoever have been given by the team for the confiscation of personal jewellery for the purpose of the implementation of the Gold-for-Oil policy or any other policy.

The available data shows that there are adequate supplies of gold dore in Ghana to meet and sustain the Gold for Oil Policy. There is therefore absolutely no basis for the allegation that personal jewellery is being confiscated to service the Gold-for-Oil Policy,” the press release clarified.

Management also explained that, “The gold industry is characterized by unscrupulous activities which include but are not limited to gold smuggling through various entry and exit points. The security agencies have been in constant collaborations with all relevant stakeholders including PMMC to address this phenomenon.”

It said, “The Security Agencies have, long before the coming into force of the Gold for Oil Policy, had existing operations where they detain or arrest persons who travel through the Kotoka International Airport with unexplained quantities of gold dore disguised as jewellery. It is imperative to note that these security operations have always been in force.”

Below is published, The Full Press Release:

Source: Anchorghana