Travel Advisory Note
The Indian High Commission in Accra (Ghana) is being frequently contacted by businessmen or individuals from India regarding purchase of gold and other minerals from Ghana. Many galamsey/scammers have sprung up in the West African Region including in Ghana. We advise all interested parties to kindly follow the under-listed steps to be taken for acquiring these minerals from Ghana:
1. Any person who claims to have gold for sale should be directed to deliver the gold (and diamonds) at the Precious Minerals Marketing Company Limited (PMMC), for testing/assaying. Thereafter, the PMMC will confirm the genuineness and value of the gold to the prospective overseas buyers.
2. Overseas buyers are to note that gold is normally sold in Ghana in the smelted form. Offers for sale of gold dust at low prices are not genuine and should be ignored. Pricing of gold in Ghana is based on the London Metal Exchange (LME) quotes.Therefore offers with big discounts ranging from 10% off the LME are only meant to entice overseas buyers to part with cash to the fraudsters, who normally ask for additional fees in respect of incidental expenses like transportation, commission, security, “movement”, handling, documentation and insurance. All such fees are false. The only genuine fees are freight charges and insurance.
3. Inspection and assay certificates purported to have been issued by Geological Survey and Societe General de Souveillante (SGS) may not be genuine, and should be cross-checked with PMMC.
4. Presentations made to foreigners about large holdings of gold dust by people designated as chiefs, relatives of famous and respected chiefs, land owners, & miners are ‘fairy tales’ and not to be believed. For all such claims, the owners should be directed to deliver the gold to PMMC, for testing & valuation, as indicated in (1) above. Please ignore suppliers who refuse to deliver gold/ diamond to PMMC for certification and offer various excuses. They are likely to be fraudsters.
5. There are several addresses of self-acclaimed agents on the internet with potential to offer large quantities of gold from Ghana. Be Careful!!!!!!!!!!!
6. Provision of PMMC, Minerals Commission, Geological Survey Department and Ministry Lands and Natural Resources Certificates by a dealer/supplier does not guarantee genuineness of transaction as many of these documents are forged. Documents must be cross-checked with PMMC.
7. Inspection and assay certificates purported to have been issued by Geological Survey and Societe General de Souveillante (SGS) may not be genuine, and should be cross-checked with PMMC.
8. Presentations made to foreigners about large holdings of gold dust by people designated as chiefs, relatives of famous and respected chiefs, land owners, & miners are ‘fairy tales’ and not to be believed. For all such claims, the owners should be directed to deliver the gold to PMMC, for testing & valuation, as indicated in (4) above. Please ignore suppliers who refuse to deliver gold/ diamond to PMMC for certification and offer various excuses. They are likely to be fraudsters.
9. There are several addresses of self-acclaimed agents on the internet with potential to offer large quantities of gold from Ghana. Be Careful.
10. Provision of PMMC, Minerals Commission, Geological Survey Department and Ministry Lands and Natural Resources Certificates by a dealer/supplier does not guarantee genuineness of transaction as many of these documents are forged. Documents must be cross-checked with PMMC.
11. It is therefore advisable that interested buyers may contact this High Commission or the PMMC for clearance before proceeding further.
(Ajaneesh Kumar)
Deputy High Commissioner