By Ewurabena Paha
The Ghana Association of Jewellers is calling for five percent of gold produced in Ghana to be reserved for local manufacturers.
This will increase value addition and production of gold products in the country.
Speaking at the media launch of the 2023 Gold Statement in Accra, President of the Association, Jonathan Ababio, said though Ghana is noted as the leading producer of gold in Africa, end products are expensive because much of the raw materials are not available for local producers to use due to export.
This development, Mr Ababio said, makes Ghana’s products on the world market expensive, affecting trade.
In 2021, Ghana exported $5.29 billion of gold, making the country the19th highest gold exporter in the world. This feat, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof Alex Doudoo said, must position Ghana to attract the foreign income it needs.
He said the authority is improving its standard technology for testing gold and jewellery in order to make the country’s gold products preferable.
The Gold Statement and Gala Event will be held in November 2023.
