Sammy Gyamfi
Ghana’s newly established Gold Board (GoldBod) says small-scale gold exports have hit an all-time high, surpassing the output of the large-scale mining sector for the first eight months of the year.
Delivering a keynote at the maiden Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi revealed that between January and August 2025, Ghana exported 66.7 tonnes of small-scale gold valued at approximately US$6 billion.
“This export performance has already exceeded the total small-scale gold export volume for the whole of 2024, which stood at 63 tonnes valued at US$4.6 billion,” Gyamfi stated.
The GoldBod, which holds exclusive rights to purchase and export artisanal and small-scale gold, attributes this record growth to sweeping reforms in licensing, regulatory oversight, and pricing. The board has also introduced measures such as abolishing the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed small-scale gold and deploying a taskforce to clamp down on illegal trade and smuggling.
According to Gyamfi, small-scale gold exports for the first eight months of 2025 also surpassed large-scale mining exports, which stood at 65.1 tonnes valued at US$5.6 billion.
“These numbers prove that with the right structures in place, small-scale mining can become a major driver of Ghana’s economic growth,” he said.
The GoldBod has also started supporting the Bank of Ghana’s gold reserve program by purchasing 20% of the output of seven large-scale mining firms, supplying nearly 100 kilograms of gold to the central bank so far.
Gyamfi assured stakeholders that GoldBod will continue to enhance transparency, curb smuggling, and maximize Ghana’s national benefit from its mineral wealth.
