GoldBod, World Gold Council Explore Strategic Partnership on Artisanal Small-scale Mining Formalisation and Traceability
The Ghana Gold Board has opened discussions with the World Gold Council on a potential strategic partnership aimed at deepening the formalisation of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) sector and strengthening traceability across Ghana’s gold value chain.
The engagement, held in Accra on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, brought together the Chief Executive Officer of the World Gold Council, David Tait, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Goldbod, Richard Nunekpeku, Esq. and members of the Governing Board of the GoldBod, led by its Chairman, Mr. Kojo Fynn.
Discussions focused on the deployment of modern traceability technology, the establishment of environmentally responsible processing plants for ASM gold, and the alignment of Ghana’s gold governance framework with international best practices.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tait said the World Gold Council was keen on understanding Ghana’s gold ecosystem and the level of institutional and political commitment before deepening its engagement.
“What we have been trying to understand is how the pieces are put together in Ghana, where the priorities are and the degree of commitment, not just from institutions such as yourselves, but also from government so that when we get involved, we are comfortable deploying resources where necessary,” he stated.
Mr. Tait noted that the Council’s global initiatives include traceability solutions that track gold from the point of extraction to processing, as well as the rollout of sustainable processing plants that support responsible mining.
For his part, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., underscored that the objectives of the World Gold Council strongly align with GoldBod’s mandate, particularly its focus on sanitising the ASM sector, cutting out illicit financial flows, and reducing gold smuggling.
“By offering competitive prices and intensifying the fight against smuggling, we have seen ASM gold volumes increase significantly from about 64 tonnes in 2024 to approximately 103 tonnes last year,” Mr. Gyamfi said.
He explained that GoldBod now fully funds ASM gold purchases through licensed traders, subjecting the trade to strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls, while working closely with security agencies to eliminate illegal activities within the sector.
Mr. Gyamfi further highlighted the need for modern processing facilities to address environmental degradation and low recovery rates associated with informal mining practices.
“If we can have compliant processing plants here, we will reduce environmental damage, optimise recovery, and ensure that the state is able to efficiently mop up gold once it is processed,” he added, expressing GoldBod’s readiness to partner with the World Gold Council on traceability, processing and formalisation initiatives.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the GoldBod also reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to reforms that ensure inclusivity, transparency and value addition across the gold value chain.
“We want traceability and value addition to refined gold, and to ensure that all those involved in the ASM sector benefit from the business being done,” the Chairman stated.
The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between GoldBod and international stakeholders as Ghana seeks to entrench responsible gold sourcing, enhance environmental sustainability, and maximise the developmental impact of its gold resources.
