Ghana’s Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sector took center stage on Day 2 of the Mining in Motion 2025 Summit, as stakeholders gathered in Accra to chart a sustainable path forward under the theme: “Sustainable Mining & Local Growth- Leveraging Resources for Global Impact.”
The event, held in partnership with the Ashanti Green Initiative, brought together policymakers, investors, environmental advocates, and mining executives to deliberate on reforming ASM practices, promoting responsible sourcing, and leveraging Ghana’s mineral wealth to spur inclusive economic development.
Among the key announcements was a major policy commitment by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to enhance gold traceability and curb the inflow of illegally mined gold into the formal market.
Speaking during a panel on responsible gold sourcing, Acting CEO of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, reaffirmed the organization’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit gold purchases, while candidly acknowledging existing limitations in tracking the origin of gold currently entering the supply chain.
“As an organization, we don’t buy illegally mined gold. We don’t. That is the policy position, but currently, we are not in the position to know the source of all the gold we receive, because of the absence of a traceability technology that is able to trace all that gold to the mines they were produced.” Gyamfi stated.
Gyamfi explained that while GoldBod works with numerous licensed ASM operators across the country, the lack of comprehensive traceability remains a critical challenge. However, that is poised to change.
“I must be honest to also admit that we have a challenge, and that challenge has to do with the lack of traceability, but like I said, by September this year, that problem will be a thing of the past. Because with the system we are deploying, we will be able to trace every gram of gold we buy to the mine where it was produced,” he said.
According to Gyamfi, the traceability system under development will enable the Gold Board to implement stricter controls on sourcing practices, ensuring that only responsibly mined gold enters Ghana’s official supply chain. He emphasized that this would not be an overnight fix but a phased transition.
“In the medium to long term, this is not something we can do overnight, Between the next three to five years, it will be possible for the Gold Board to detect the source of every gram of gold it buys and take a policy decision that no illegally mined gold will be bought by the Gold Board,” he said.
The commitment was widely welcomed by summit participants, many of whom underscored the importance of technology and transparency in building investor confidence and protecting local ecosystems.
The Mining in Motion 2025 Summit, which concludes on June 4, will highlight innovations in environmental stewardship, fair trade certifications, and capacity building for local miners.
