The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that it awarded an office renovation contract through sole sourcing and procured laptops at inflated prices, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by its Media Relations Office, the Board said it had taken notice of what it described as inaccurate information being spread online and was therefore clarifying the circumstances surrounding the procurement processes in question.
Renovation Contract Followed Procurement Procedures
GoldBod explained that after its establishment in April 2025, it undertook a recruitment exercise that brought in more than 300 additional staff members, making it necessary to relocate from the former offices of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company at Diamond House to a larger facility.
According to the Board, it rented the old Bank of Ghana Head Office building at No. 1 Thorpe Road in Accra to serve as its operational headquarters. However, the building required significant renovation because it had previously been described as structurally defective and unsuitable for use.
To undertake the refurbishment, GoldBod said it sought and obtained approval from the Public Procurement Authority to use the restricted tendering method for the project. Three companies were shortlisted to participate in the bidding process, with Correca Ghana Limited eventually emerging as the successful contractor.
The Board emphasised that the contract was therefore not awarded through sole sourcing as alleged.
GoldBod further noted that the contract details were published on its official website on March 10, 2026, in line with transparency requirements under the Ghana Gold Board Act 2025.
Laptop Procurement Not Inflated
Addressing claims that it purchased 15 laptops at inflated prices, the Board stated that the devices were procured in November 2025 for newly appointed directors and deputy directors.
The procurement, GoldBod said, was carried out through a single-source procurement method after approval was obtained from the Public Procurement Authority, due to the urgency of the purchase and the limited availability of the specified laptop model at the time.
The laptops were supplied by GET4LESS Ghana Limited at a total cost of GH¢322,500, translating into GH¢21,500 per unit, inclusive of taxes.
According to the Board, the price corresponds with the market value of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14S Core i7 laptop with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, noting that similar prices can be verified through suppliers’ listings.
GoldBod maintained that GET4LESS Ghana Limited was selected because it had the capacity to supply the required number of devices within the stipulated time frame.
Commitment to Transparency
The Board reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that all contracts entered into by the institution are published publicly as required by law.
It also urged the public to disregard what it described as attempts by “purveyors of fake news” to misrepresent its activities.
The statement was signed by Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer of the Ghana Gold Board.