In a historic milestone for Ghana’s mining industry, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) have outpaced large-scale mining companies in gold exports for the first time, raking in approximately $4 billion between February and May 2025, according to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
Speaking at the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi announced that ASM operations exported a total of 41.5 tonnes of gold during the period, surpassing large-scale operators in both volume and export value.
The surge is attributed to recent regulatory reforms, intensified anti-smuggling efforts, and the rollout of gold aggregation centers nationwide.
“In the just-ended month of May alone, GoldBod purchased and exported 11 tonnes of gold from the ASM sector, worth over $1.17 billion,” Gyamfi revealed.
He credited the gains to aggressive oversight mechanisms, which have enabled GoldBod to “mop up over 90% of all ASM gold” and ensure transactions are routed through formal channels.
The influx of foreign exchange from ASM exports, facilitated by GoldBod’s operations on behalf of the Bank of Ghana, is expected to boost foreign reserves and support cedi stability at a critical time for the country’s economic recovery.
“These achievements validate President John Mahama’s vision of integrating small-scale miners into the formal economy,” Gyamfi said. “Artisanal miners are not enemies of the state.
When properly trained and supported, they can be allies of development.”
GoldBod has also launched a digital traceability platform and training initiatives to promote responsible sourcing and attract ethical investment to the ASM sector.
“This is only the beginning,” Gyamfi declared. “We are building a mining ecosystem that is transparent, inclusive, and globally competitive.”
Source: Myxyzonline.com
