Ghana plans to overtake its gold sector with a blockchain-powered monitoring system by the top of 2026 to make sure full traceability and licensed origin for all gold exports.
Aggressive reforms and prolonged timelines
Ghana is getting ready to overtake its gold sector by introducing a blockchain-based monitoring system by the top of 2026. The system is designed to make sure full traceability and proof of origin for all gold bought and exported from Ghana.
The announcement was reportedly made by Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, throughout the 2025 Dubai Valuable Metals Convention held on November 24. The initiative is a part of sweeping reforms geared toward cleansing up the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector and eradicating unlawful mining from the gold provide chain.
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Regardless of having been in operation for less than seven months, the Gold Fee is transferring in direction of implementing a observe and hint system. Gyamfi defined that the system will embody compliance audits to confirm the authorized and sustainable origin of each gram of processed gold and stop licensed mines from getting used as fronts for unlawful operations.
Gyamfi mentioned this initiative is crucial to curbing gold smuggling, strengthening regulatory oversight, and selling anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) measures. In keeping with the report, the implementation of blockchain-based techniques isn’t just a coverage goal, however a authorized requirement set out in Article 31X of the Gold Board Act (Act 1140).
Gyamfi has revised the system's authentic goal launch date, beforehand introduced as Q1 2026, and prolonged the timeline to the top of 2026 to permit for a complete procurement and implementation course of.
In the meantime, the CEO's remarks have been quoted in a neighborhood report highlighting ASM's pivotal function in Ghana's 2025 financial restoration. The sector offered 90 tonnes of gold, about 53% of the nation's complete gold exports, and generated greater than $9 billion in international trade. The ASM sector at the moment helps over 1 million jobs.
Nevertheless, Mr Gyamfi warned that unregulated and unlawful mining continues to pose a severe risk to Ghana's rivers, forests and public well being. To fight this, the Gold Board has stepped up enforcement, arrange a specialised job power, and arrested and prosecuted a number of unlawful merchants. The Board can also be investing in an Worldwide Group for Standardization (ISO)-accredited analytical laboratory to modernize gold testing throughout the ASM worth chain.
In search of a world certification system
Gyamfi mentioned gold smuggling is a significant component in cash laundering and appealed to the worldwide neighborhood to assist the creation of a world certification system just like the Kimberley Course of for diamonds to stop smuggled gold from getting into the formal market.
He referred to as on key worldwide organizations such because the Dubai Multi Commodities Middle (DMCC), OECD, London Bullion Market Affiliation (LBMA) and World Gold Council to assist creating nations' efforts to formalize the ASM sector.
Reforms to the Gold Council, established below President John Dramani Mahama's dedication to accountable mining, are already boosting Ghana's economic system, contributing to a 35% appreciation within the cedi and a $2.1 billion commerce surplus this 12 months. Gold Board and Valuable Minerals Advertising and marketing Firm generated greater than $8 billion from small-scale gold exports from January 2025 to October 15, 2025. This was a 75% enhance in comparison with the entire for all of 2024.
Steadily requested questions 💡
- What’s Ghana's new gold initiative? A blockchain-powered monitoring system to authenticate all gold exports by 2026.
- Why was the discharge schedule prolonged? Deployment has been moved to the top of 2026 to permit for full procurement and deployment.
- How essential is ASM to Ghana's economic system? Artisanal mining produced 90 tonnes in 2025, earned $9 billion and supported 1 million jobs.
- What sort of world assist is Ghana looking for? Certification schemes such because the Kimberley Course of to cease gold being smuggled into the market.
