President John Dramani Mahama says the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has helped Ghana improve its management of small-scale gold exports and increase foreign exchange inflows.
He disclosed that the country exported 104 tonnes of gold from the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in 2025, compared with 64 tonnes in 2024.
Speaking to members of the Ghanaian diaspora in Moscow, Russia, Mahama said the reforms were introduced to address the export of gold through channels that did not ensure foreign exchange proceeds returned to Ghana.
He noted that gold is produced in 10 of the country’s 16 regions, making effective monitoring and formalisation of the sector important.
“Ghana has been called the Gold Coast. We are endowed with gold,” he said.
The President said GoldBod now aggregates gold from small-scale miners, helping the country account for production and strengthen control over exports.
He further disclosed that foreign exchange inflows from the sector increased from US$4.6 billion in 2024 to US$10.8 billion in 2025.
Mahama also highlighted the strict penalties under the new regulatory framework for unauthorised gold exports, including imprisonment.
Established under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), GoldBod regulates the purchase, aggregation, assaying, marketing and export of gold from the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The legislation, passed in March 2025 and assented to in April, makes GoldBod the sole authorised exporter of small-scale gold from Ghana.
