Accra: The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has secured a 0.6-acre parcel of land at the cargo village of the Kotoka International Airport for an ultra-modern ISO certified assay laboratory and a state-owned gold refinery. This initiative is part of efforts to enhance value by transitioning Ghana's assay regime from XRF and water density to the fire assay standard for all gold produced or exported from the country. The upcoming international standard gold refinery is anticipated to boost local refining capacity, facilitating Ghana's shift from exporting dor© (semi-pure alloy of gold and silver) to bullion.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, announced the developments during the Mining and Minerals Convention 2025. He mentioned the collaboration between GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana, along with local refineries such as the Gold Coast Refinery, to commence the local refining of gold purchased and exported by GoldBod. This initiative aligns with the board's ongoing local purchase of 20 percent of the gold output from seven large-scale mining companies in the country.
Mr. Gyamfi expressed commendation for the Chamber of Mines, acknowledging their willingness to collaborate in ensuring the local refining of gold produced by large-scale mining firms. Meanwhile, Mr. Yusif Sulemana, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, highlighted the need to address Ghana's infrastructure development challenges, particularly in mining areas, despite the abundance of mineral resources.
He emphasized the importance of tackling issues related to inadequate value addition and local investment in the mining sector. The deputy minister also pointed out the environmental impact of unsustainable mining methods and technologies, stressing the need for strategic governmental steps to align with global best practices. This includes a comprehensive review of the miners and mining act and the minerals and mining policy through extensive stakeholder engagement.
In his remarks, Mr. Sulemana urged for a narrative change, "The time has come for us to change the narrative. The future begins today and it starts with us."
