Ghana Denies Rough Diamonds from Ivory Coast Are Smuggled

Ghana is rejecting claims that rough diamonds from Ivory Coast are smuggled across its borders. Parts of Ivory Coast are held by rebel forces who might be trying to sell diamonds to finance their battles.

Sensitive to charges that might take it off the Kimberley Process (KP) members' list, Ghana’s Minister of mines, land and forestry, Professor Dominic Fobih, said Wednesday that the government is committed to the Process.

“The allegation is a complete shock and disturbing development to the government and people of Ghana,” he told the press. To prove his point he added that Ghana's rough diamond exports have remained constant since 2002.

According to a recent report by Diamond Intelligence Brief, Ghana’s Precious Minerals Marketing Company purchased over 1 million carats of diamonds in 2005, up from just over 900,000 carats in 2004.

The allegations against Ghana were made by a panel of experts from Ivory Coast, which has accused Ghana of supporting the rebels by allowing the illegal trade.

Last December, the United Nations Security Council “acknowledged the role of diamonds” in fuelling the conflict and broadened the arms embargo to include a ban on diamond exports from Ivory Coast. Security Council members suspect that the rebel group ‘New Forces’ purchases arms with revenue from illicit diamond sales.