ELS: MBN360 BUSINESS
Ghana’s efforts to formalise the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector have received a major boost, with the World Gold Council (WGC) committing an initial US$250,000—the first tranche of a planned US$1 million support package—to advance responsible mining practices in the country.
The funding forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the World Gold Council to strengthen supply chain integrity, promote responsible gold production, and combat illegal gold trading and illicit financial flows.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the partnership represents a significant milestone in government’s efforts to transform Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector into one that is responsible, transparent, well-regulated, and economically beneficial.
He explained that the initial grant will support the registration of mining cooperatives under the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), a key initiative aimed at formalising artisanal mining operations.
Under the agreement, the two parties will establish a nationwide network of trusted gold processing plants that will operate in line with internationally recognised responsible sourcing standards.
The processing facilities are expected to encourage artisanal miners to sell their gold through official channels, reducing gold smuggling, illicit trade, and illegal financial flows while improving transparency across Ghana’s gold value chain.
Read also:
- Vice President heads to U.S. for Sister Cities International 70th Anniversary Conference
- President Mahama receives Wisconsin Governor on Accra visit
- CID rescues nine trafficking victims, arrests ten in Afienya cybercrime operation
- FiFA Re-Activates the old adage of “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul”
- Wontumi Should Not Become Galamsey’s Only Poster Boy — Eco-Conscious Coordinator
The partnership will also support the development of mining policies and standards, strengthen the capacity of regulatory institutions and mining communities, introduce gold traceability and origin verification technologies, and provide education and skills training for artisanal miners.
Chairman of the World Gold Council, David Tait, described Ghana as a trailblazer in responsible artisanal mining, saying the country’s Gold Processing Initiative could become a global model for addressing the challenges associated with small-scale mining.
According to Mr. Tait, the World Gold Council intends to replicate the initiative in other countries facing similar challenges. He noted that although the programme will not solve the problem overnight, it provides a sustainable medium- to long-term solution for improving supply chain integrity, reducing illegal mining, and protecting the environment.
He said the initiative is anchored on three key pillars: verification technology, responsible gold processing plants, and a centralised official gold purchasing system—all of which Ghana is developing under the new partnership.
Mr. Tait also urged political leaders to treat the fight against illegal mining as a national rather than a partisan issue, calling for a bipartisan approach to the fight.
