By: Maltiti Sayida Sadick
In a major step towards ethical and sustainable mining, Goldbod is set to launch a National Gold Traceability System by the end of this year. The CEO of Goldbod Sammy Gyamfi speaking at the minerals and mining convention 2025 said the system will ensure that every gram of gold purchased by Goldbod can be traced to its mine of origin, and only mines compliant with environmental standards will be approved.
Additionally, Goldbod will commence the reclamation of 1,000 hectares of mined land starting in November 2025. The move is part of the agency’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable mining practices.
Ghana’s state-backed gold management agency, Goldbod, will commence domestic gold refining before export starting October 2025, as part of sweeping reforms to add value to the country’s mineral resources and ensure traceability in the gold sector.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, a government spokesperson, the move marks a major shift in Ghana’s gold export strategy, aimed at enhancing national sovereignty over its mineral wealth. Goldbod, which holds the exclusive rights to purchase and export all artisanal gold mined in the country from both small and large-scale mining has already made significant progress since its inception.
“Ghana is changing the narrative. We are now exploiting our mineral resources with a focus on national development and value addition,” Gyamfi said.
As part of this transformation, Goldbod has acquired a parcel of land at the cargo village of Kotoka International Airport to construct a modern, ISI-certified assay laboratory and a wholly state-owned refinery. This will enable Ghana to refine gold locally before it is exported, capturing more value within the country and enhancing transparency in the gold trade.
Record Earnings from Small-Scale Mining
Goldbod’s regulatory interventions have already yielded impressive results. In just the past year, gold production under the agency’s oversight reached 66.7 tonnes, generating $6.3 billion in revenue far surpassing the $4.6 billion made in the entirety of 2024.
The agency attributes this surge to reforms including stronger regulatory controls, competitive pricing for licensed miners and buyers, and a renewed focus on formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining activities.
CSR and Local Support Initiatives
Goldbod’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan includes providing clean water, healthcare, and scholarships for brilliant but needy students in mining communities.
The agency also aims to transform artisanal small-scale mining from what Gyamfi described as “lottery mining” into a system with guaranteed returns, by supporting geological research and encouraging local financial institutions to invest in data-backed mining operations.
Looking Ahead
As Africa’s youth population is projected to hit 370 million people aged 15–35 by 2030, Ghana’s Goldbod initiative is positioning the country not only as a top gold producer but also as a model for responsible and inclusive resource governance.
With domestic refining set to begin in October 2025, Ghana is not just exporting gold but exporting a new model of African resource sovereignty.
