The Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) has held a consultative meeting with the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners and the Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana to address challenges within the gold production value chain.

Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of GoldBod, identified purity losses as a primary concern.

He noted that these losses are negatively impacting the board’s finances and called for a collaborative effort with small-scale miners to improve the quality and transparency of the gold trade.

Financial and technical support

The CEO reaffirmed GOLDBOD’s commitment to the sector, citing a mandate that allocates up to 30% of the board's surplus to support small-scale mining.

To facilitate this, GOLDBOD has requested the associations to submit a formal working plan.

Proposed support initiatives include:

- Equipment and Funding: Providing resources to enhance production efficiency.

- Technical Assistance: Offering expertise to improve mining practices.

- Formalisation: Strengthening the sector to maximise national gold output.

Efforts to combat illegal mining

In addition to financial support, GOLDBOD announced active measures to curb illegal mining activities.

The board is currently in the process of procuring patrol boats specifically designed to remove illegal operators from water bodies.

The meeting concluded with GOLDBOD emphasising its focus on promoting responsible mining practices and ensuring that small-scale mining contributes more effectively to the national economy.