The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has apologised after mistakenly publishing the wrong photograph of a suspect linked to an ongoing gold smuggling case.

In a statement signed by Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer at GoldBod, the agency clarified that while the details concerning Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq, also known as Salaam, were correct, the accompanying photo was not.

“The image circulated was in fact that of Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director of International Operations at Malabar Gold and Diamonds,” the statement explained.

GoldBod expressed “deep regret” for the error and issued a formal apology to Mr. Ahamed and Malabar Gold and Diamonds for any reputational damage caused.

The Board has since released the correct photograph of Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq, who is currently on trial in connection with a gold smuggling case involving RAFMOH Gold Limited and NK Bernard Enterprise.

GoldBod further appealed to all media outlets that published the incorrect image to update their reports with the corrected version.