Ghana ranked among 10 African countries with largest gold reserves
With gold reserves pegged at 8.74 metric tons, Ghana has been ranked among the Continent’s ten (10) countries with the largest gold reserves.
According to German research firm, Statista, Ghana is the eighth African country with the largest gold reserves.
With the introduction of the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchasing Programme, the country’s gold reserves is expected to increase and possibly overtake Algeria which has the largest gold reserves (174 metric tonnes) on the Continent.
In second and third places, are South Africa and Libya with gold reserves of 125 metric tonnes and 117 metric tonnes respectively.
In last place is Mozambique with 3.94 metric tonnes.
Here are the top 10 African countries with the largest gold holdings in 2021
- Algeria 174 metric tons
- South Africa – 125 metric tons
- Libya – 117 metric tons
- Egypt – 80.73 metric tons
- Morocco – 22.12 metric tons
- Nigeria – 21.37 metric tons
- Mauritius – 12.44 metric tons
- Ghana – 8.74 metric tons
- Tunisia – 6.84 metric tons
- Mozambique – 3.94 metric tons
Newmont makes historic 3,500 ounces gold sale to Bank of Ghana
Newmont Ghana successfully sold 3,500 ounces of gold to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) under the Central Bank’s Domestic Gold Purchasing Scheme launched last year.
This makes Newmont Ghana the first mining firm in the country to make gold sales to the apex bank under the scheme.
Making the announcement, Regional Senior Vice President of Newmont Africa, Dave Thornton, remarked Newmont’s pioneering leadership in such a gold sale agreement is expected to be emulated by other mining firms in the country.
Adding that, the sale of the gold to the Central Bank is a further demonstration of Newmont’s commitment to creating value and its contribution towards maintaining the fiscal stability of the country.
“Indeed, Ghana’s Vice-President during the just ended West Africa Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, lauded the company for its trailblazing role and contributions towards the development of the country.
“Newmont Africa intends to leverage the reputational value of this historic feat by widely publicizing across internal and external channels to affirm its value creation credentials and contributions,” stated Mr Thornton.
The Bank of Ghana’s domestic gold purchasing programme was launched in June 2021 with the primary objective of increasing its gold reserves.
Subsequently, the Bank of Ghana initiated discussions with the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) about its intention to purchase refined gold from mining companies in the country.
While mining companies in Ghana were prepared to support the programme, there was the need to ensure that the initiative met the governance, risk, compliance, and supply chain requirements of their various companies.
Newmont proactively engaged the Bank of Ghana to on the governance, risk, compliance, and supply chain requirements associated with the deal. Following which it signed an agreement that met all the requirements of both parties in December 2021.
Under the programme, the central bank which requires an estimated amount of ~10koz of gold annually from members the Chamber of Mines over the next four to five years.
Newmont will provide about 30% of the required amount annually based on its market share within the mining industry in Ghana.
The company’s first sale of refined gold occurred in May 2022 on meeting the terms and conditions in the agreement reached.
