Ghana is shifting its gold strategy from raw resource extraction to high-value industrialization. Through the newly unveiled Ghana Gold Village, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is establishing an integrated ecosystem for domestic refining, commercial jewellery fabrication, and advanced geological exploration aimed at retaining mineral wealth within the country.
Speaking at the National Mining Dialogue in Accra under the theme “Rethinking the Social License to Operate,” GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi outlined a strategic pivot intended to transform Ghana from a primary exporter of raw bullion into a regional hub for gold processing, enterprise creation, and downstream industrial activity.
Managed by subsidiary GoldBod Jewellery Limited, the initiative will centralise local jewellery manufacturing, metal fabrication, and international export channels for finished Ghanaian gold products.
This downstream push builds on immediate progress in domestic processing. Over nine tonnes of GoldBod-aggregated gold have already been refined in Ghana this year, retaining refining fees and operational wealth within the domestic economy.
To further safeguard mineral revenues and eliminate under-declaration, GoldBod has secured land at Accra’s Aviance Cargo Village for an ultra-modern, ISO-certified National Assay Laboratory.
Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2026, enabling internationally recognised fire assay testing on both artisanal and large-scale gold before export.
The structural shift comes at a crucial moment for the nation’s mining sector. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) contributed 3.11 million ounces—or 52.4 per cent—of Ghana’s total 5.94 million ounces of gold produced in 2025.
This marked the first time in over a century of commercial mining that small-scale miners outproduced the large-scale sector.
Through targeted formalisation, GoldBod has facilitated the export of roughly 170 tonnes of ASM gold since 2025, generating over $17 billion in foreign exchange, stabilizing the cedi, and curbing illegal smuggling.
To sustain this growth, GoldBod is tackling exploration barriers by partnering with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to investigate mineralised zones in Funsi and Bensere.
By de-risking prospective assets, the state aims to secure equity stakes in future model mines while building a sustainable industry that creates high-skilled jobs for mining communities. Gold remains Ghana’s primary macroeconomic anchor, generating $20.2 billion of the nation’s $32 billion total export earnings in 2025.
Through local refining, modern assaying, and downstream manufacturing, Ghana is moving to ensure its gold reserves drive comprehensive domestic development.
