Ghana to ban exportation of unrefined gold by 2030
Thu June 11 2026
The government of Ghana is to ban the export of unrefined gold by 2030. To this end, the Ghana Gold Board is to begin construction of an ISO-certified metallurgical assay and refining laboratory in August this year to determine the purity and value of gold sourced from Ghana and enable the country to derive optimal value from the mineral on the international market.
The Chief Executive Officer of Gold Board, Samuel Gyamfi, announced this in Kumasi at his recent interaction with the National House of Chiefs. The meeting was at the instance of the National House of Chiefs for management of the Ghana Gold Board to brief the Members of its mandate and operations since its creation in April 2025. As allodial owners of stool lands in their respective traditional areas across the country, Members of the National House of Chiefs consider it worthwhile that state agencies responsible for management of mineral resources keep them updated on how the resources are utilized and how the proceeds benefit them and their people.
The Ghana Gold Board’s Chief Executive Officer took the chiefs through the mandate of his outfit, what it has been able to do within one year of its operation, the contribution of the Board to national economic development so far as well as its plans for the ensuing years.
The Ghana Gold Board CEO informed the National House of Chiefs of government’s plan to derive maximum value from its gold export by banning export of unrefined gold by 2030 with the establishment of an ISO certified metallurgical assay and refining laboratory this year. “Unless you have a laboratory that meets international standards, then it means that all the gold you produce you cannot determine the value. Even though you’re a sovereign nation, it has to be taken outside for another laboratory in a foreign land to tell you the purity level,” Mr Gyamfi noted with concern.
Mr. Gyamfi noted that, though the challenge of gold smuggling somehow persists, operationalization of the Gold Board has largely reduced the canker to a minimal level with further plans to ensure traceability policies are almost ready for a rollout to ensure that every gold purchased by the Board is from a licensed mine.
“We’ve made it a condition for all our licensed buyers to buy from only gold by either participants of government’s Cooperative Mining Scheme, or licensed small scale miners. And we’ve made it a crime under Section 59(c ) of the Gold Board Act for one to buy gold which produced by an illegal miner”, the CEO said. Members of the National House of Chiefs took turns to seek clarifications about some operations of the Gold Board, including Corporate Social Responsibility to mining communities. The Board disclosed its support for NAIMOS in the national fight against illegal mining. Already, the Board has provided five brand new pickups and a cash support of GH¢5 million to the Secretariat with plans to supply 10 modern Speed Boats to the Ghana Armed Forces to protect water bodies from destruction by galamsey operators.
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi, who is also the paramount Chief for the Bibiani-Ahwiaso traditional area in the Western North region, thanked management of the Ghana Gold Board for accepting to refurbish the new office complex of the House at Asenua. He also renewed his advocacy against illegal gold mining due to its devastation on the environment and the threat to human life.
He noted with serious concern that some foreign nationals have infiltrated the illegal business and creating more problems including insecurity and safety challenges for mining communities. The Gold Board delegation was made up of management members of the company as well as a representative of the Minerals Commission.
Source: https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/