The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has announced sweeping reforms and ambitious initiatives aimed at transforming Ghana’s mining sector into a globally competitive and sustainable industry.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Mr. Gyamfi said the GoldBod was driving a paradigm shift from raw extraction to value retention, ensuring that Ghana maximises benefits from its mineral wealth.

He revealed that between January and August 2025, small-scale gold exports facilitated by the GoldBod reached a record high of 66.7 tonnes, valued at $6 billion, surpassing the total 2024 figure of 63 tonnes worth $4.6 billion. Remarkably, small-scale gold exports also exceeded large-scale mining exports for the same period.

Mr. Gyamfi highlighted several policy interventions, including:

Aggressive licensing reforms to promote responsible sourcing.

Scrapping of the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed small-scale gold.

A nationwide traceability system to ensure transparency and compliance.

Partnerships with large-scale miners to supply 20% of their output to the Bank of Ghana for reserve accumulation.

The GoldBod has also pledged ₵5 million and five Toyota Hilux pickups to support the fight against illegal mining, while allocating funds to reclaim 1,000 hectares of degraded forest reserves starting in November 2025.

On value addition, Mr. Gyamfi announced plans to establish a state-owned gold refinery and an ISO-certified Assay Laboratory at Kotoka International Airport. He further disclosed ongoing discussions to create a “Gold Village” as a continental hub for jewellery production.

“The time to maximise gold production and optimise national benefit is now,” he said, calling on local banks, pension funds, and financiers to invest in mining.

He stressed the need for Africa to move from raw exports to beneficiation, from middlemen to tech-enabled trade, and from youth as labourers to youth as innovators and owners.

Mr. Gyamfi concluded with a rallying call: “Ghana is resetting and Africa is rising. The GoldBod is ready. All we need now is courage and capital. Let us fund the minerals and mining sector differently. Let us transform it together.”