The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has begun nationwide enforcement of the mandatory issuance of GoldBod receipts by all licensed gold buyers, a decisive step aimed at tightening regulation and enhancing transparency in the country’s gold trade.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 18, 2025, GoldBod confirmed that after several postponements and grace periods, compliance is now compulsory for licensed aggregators, self-financed aggregators, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 buyers.
“The issuance of GoldBod receipts is a compulsory requirement for gold trading and a critical condition for the validity of all transactions,” the Board emphasized.
To drive enforcement, GoldBod has deployed a special taskforce and field inspectors across the country. Licensed buyers are now required to make their receipt booklets available for inspection and fully cooperate with monitoring teams.
The regulator also issued a strong advisory to small-scale miners and gold traders, urging them to demand official receipts for every transaction. “GoldBod further advises all licensed small-scale miners and gold traders to insist on the issuance of GoldBod receipts for every purchase transaction undertaken with licensed buyers,” the statement read.
GoldBod warned that non-compliance would attract severe sanctions. “Licensed buyers are reminded that the non-issuance of GoldBod receipts constitutes a serious offence and may attract severe sanctions, including the suspension and/or revocation of their license,” the Board stated.
With gold contributing significantly to Ghana’s export earnings, the enforcement of a standardized receipt system, the GoldBod says, represents a broader push by government to sanitize the sector, strengthen oversight, and ensure that small-scale and licensed operators alike work within a transparent and accountable framework.