"World Gold Council partnership will ensure Ghanaian gold is responsibly produced and legally traded" - Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has described the Government's partnership with the World Gold Council as a major milestone in Ghana's efforts to promote responsible gold production, strengthen supply chain integrity and ensure that Ghanaian gold is traded through legal and transparent channels.

Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Ghana and the World Gold Council, the Minister said the collaboration would support the formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector while reinforcing the country's commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible mining practices.

According to Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, the partnership is designed to ensure that gold produced in Ghana is sourced from legitimate operations and meets internationally accepted standards of traceability and responsible mining.

"This partnership will ensure Ghanaian gold is produced responsibly and traded through legal channels," the Minister stated, adding that government remains committed to sanitising the mining sector and eliminating illegal gold trading.

He disclosed that the World Gold Council has committed an initial US$250,000 development grant as part of a broader US$1 million support package to assist Ghana in implementing programmes aimed at improving responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

The Minister explained that the initiative will facilitate the establishment of a nationwide network of trusted gold processing facilities to enable small-scale miners to process their ore more efficiently using modern technology.

He noted that many artisanal miners currently recover less than 20 percent of the value of their ore due to outdated processing methods.

However, with access to modern processing facilities, recovery rates could exceed 80 percent, increasing miners' incomes while significantly reducing environmental degradation associated with illegal mining.

Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah said the partnership also seeks to improve transparency throughout Ghana's gold supply chain, making it easier to verify the origin of gold and channel production through formal markets.

President of the World Gold Council, David Tait, said Ghana's initiative has the potential to become a model for other gold-producing countries seeking to address challenges associated with artisanal and small-scale mining.

He explained that the programme would leverage modern verification technologies, responsible processing systems and official gold-buying mechanisms to enhance transparency, reduce illegal mining activities and strengthen confidence in Ghanaian gold on the international market.

Mr. Tait further urged all stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that illegal mining remains a national challenge that requires collective action rather than political division.

The partnership is expected to advance Ghana's ongoing efforts to formalise the small-scale mining sector, improve environmental stewardship, increase gold recovery rates and reinforce the country's reputation as a responsible producer of gold for the global market.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Priscilla Dodoo