The Accra Daily Mail | Ghana's Daily News & Business Newspaper

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Ghana Has Capital but Lacks Architecture to Channel It to SMEs, Bank of Ghana Deputy Governor Warns
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Genser Energy Secures €456 Million Financing From South African Banks to Expand West African Gas and Power Infrastructure
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Ministry vs Government Agency: What Is the Difference?
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How Ghana’s Ministries Work
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Why Government Agencies Exist — And What They Actually Do
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How Ghana’s Public Services Work
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Mobile Money Transactions Hit GH¢518.8 Billion in August 2026, Up 46.5% Year-on-Year
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COCOBOD Increases Cocoa Producer Price to GH¢42,400 Per Tonne for 2026/27 Season
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What Does Ghana’s Council of State Do?
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What Does Ghana’s Chief Justice Do?
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What Does Ghana’s Attorney-General Do?
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What Are Fundamental Human Rights in Ghana?

Business & Economy

COCOBOD Increases Cocoa Producer Price to GH¢42,400 Per Tonne for 2026/27 Season

Business & Economy

Ghana’s Economy by the Numbers: 25 Facts Everyone Should Know

Business & Economy

The Cost of Doing Business in Ghana: What Entrepreneurs Should Know

Business & Economy

Ghana’s Informal Economy: The Business World You Rarely See in the Statistics

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Health Mail

Malaria Prevention: What Actually Works

Malaria Prevention: What Actually Works?

Malaria remains one of Ghana’s most persistent public health challenges.…

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How Does Malaria Spread

How Does Malaria Spread? The Ghanaian Guide

Malaria is one of the most familiar illnesses in Ghana.…

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What Causes High Blood Pressure

What Causes High Blood Pressure In Ghana — And Why Is It So Common?

High blood pressure is everywhere in Ghana. Walk into any…

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Diabetes Explained

Diabetes Explained: What Happens Inside the Body?

Diabetes is becoming more common in Ghana. You probably know…

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Lifestyle Mail

Editorial Mails

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Eagles of Ghana Depart for Mauritius as Africa Men’s Sevens Championship Beckons

Car Accident: Causes of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Car Accident: Causes of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

ACCRA — In a decisive move that could reshape Ghana’s gold economy, Parliament in May 2025 passed the GoldBod Act, a landmark law that prohibits foreign nationals from purchasing or trading gold mined by artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM). Touted as a response to rampant smuggling and economic leakage, the law is already stirring reactions across the industry—from praise in policy circles to anxiety among miners in gold-rich towns like Obuasi, Tarkwa, and Akwatia. While the measure appears targeted and technical, its implications are anything but minor. Ghana’s artisanal gold economy is both a vital source of rural livelihoods and a high-risk loophole in the country’s foreign exchange and environmental systems. At stake: billions in illicit gold flows, the stability of forex reserves, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of small-scale miners. A Law Born of Frustration and Urgency The GoldBod Act follows months of lobbying by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the Bank of Ghana, and civil society groups demanding tougher regulations on the booming but leaky artisanal gold trade. According to data-start=”1531″ data-end=”1542″>Reuters and data from the Ghana Revenue Authority, nearly 30% of artisanal gold production—worth an estimated $2 billion annually—leaves the country through informal and often illegal channels, often facilitated by foreign buyers, particularly from Asia and the Middle East. These buyers offer cash premiums and quick payments that local traders cannot match. “We cannot allow foreign actors to extract wealth from Ghana’s soil without contributing to our tax base or respecting our environmental laws,” said Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in a statement after the bill passed. “This law is about restoring sovereignty and fairness in one of our most critical sectors.” OTHERS READING: Ghana’s Mining Tax Hike Risks Investor Flight, Industry Warns Forex and the Gold-for-Oil Policy at Risk Foreign gold traders have long operated in Ghana’s ASM space with little formal oversight, often exchanging gold for hard currency or illicitly shipping bullion out through West African ports. This undermined the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, introduced in 2022 to bolster the cedi by using domestically sourced gold to settle energy bills and build reserves. With the cedi under pressure despite inflation easing to 18.4% in May, gold is a key plank in the country’s forex strategy. Analysts say that every ounce of gold that leaves Ghana’s borders unreported is a missed opportunity to stabilize the economy. “Banning foreign traders is a step toward plugging a fiscal hole that’s been bleeding us quietly for years,” said Dr. Leticia Owusu, a currency analyst at CediWatch Africa. “If this law is enforced well, we could see significant improvement in forex inflows within 12 to 18 months.” Small-Scale Miners: Protected or Squeezed? But not everyone is applauding. In towns like Dunkwa-on-Offin and Prestea, the reaction among small-scale miners is mixed. “Some of the foreigners pay instantly, no paperwork. That’s why we liked them,” said Yaw Badu, a licensed small-scale miner in the Central Region. “Now the government is asking us to go through agents, and we don’t know if we’ll get fair prices.” To address this, the Minerals Commission is launching a new licensing system under the GoldBod framework, creating designated buying centers with government-certified agents. These centers are meant to ensure transparency, fair pricing, and real-time data collection. But implementation has proven spotty so far, with delays in onboarding new agents and a lack of awareness among rural miners. OTHERS READING: FDA Cautions Public Against Fraudulent Recruitment Schemes There’s also the risk of the law pushing trade deeper underground. “If alternatives aren’t made attractive, the foreign buyers will simply adapt—go stealth, pay higher bribes, or move across borders,” warned Rashid Fuseini, an ASM researcher at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT). Environmental and Security Payoffs? Supporters argue that the law is not just about economics—it’s also about cleaning up a sector often blamed for environmental degradation, child labor, and local conflict. Foreign traders, many of whom fund and supply illegal mining sites (galamsey), are seen as central to the financing of unregulated mining operations. By cutting off their access to Ghana’s gold fields, policymakers hope to weaken the galamsey economy, reduce mercury pollution, and give communities room to rehabilitate degraded lands. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 15% of Ghana’s forest reserves have been damaged by illegal mining, with water bodies like the Ankobra and Birim now heavily contaminated. Implementation and the Road Ahead Experts agree that enforcement is the Achilles’ heel. Ghana’s history of grand policy gestures often fades at the execution stage. The GoldBod Act will test the government’s ability to not just legislate—but implement—structural change in a deeply informal sector. “This isn’t just about banning foreigners,” said Nana Ama Boateng, an extractives governance analyst at ACEP Ghana. “It’s about rethinking how we bring ASM into the formal economy, and whether we are serious about cleaning up the mess we allowed for years.” In the short term, success will depend on effective monitoring, equitable pricing mechanisms, and education campaigns for miners. In the long term, the Act could either formalize a shadow economy or simply displace it to neighboring Burkina Faso, Togo, or Côte d’Ivoire. OTHERS READING: No Results, No Bonus: GRA Boss Signs Up for Pressure Pay Ghana’s GoldBod Act is a bold bet: that banning foreign traders from ASM gold will tighten economic control, protect the environment, and empower local miners. The stakes are high. Get it right, and Ghana could rewrite its gold story—transforming a chaotic gold rush into a structured pillar of economic resilience. Get it wrong, and the black-market pipelines will only grow more efficient. For now, the gold glitters—but whether it delivers lasting value remains uncertain. Accra Street Journal will continue to monitor the implementation of the GoldBod Act and its impact on Ghana’s mining economy and forex ecosystem.

GoldBod Act: Why Banning Foreign Traders from Artisanal Gold Matters

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IOC elects first ever female and African president: Kirsty Coventry to succeed Thomas Bach as on 23 June

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Mails on Tech

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