Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi delivered a forceful address at the 2025 Dubai Precious Metals Conference on Monday, outlining Ghana’s sweeping reforms in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and calling for global cooperation to curb gold smuggling and promote responsible sourcing.
Speaking at the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah Hotel, Gyamfi said Ghana’s ASM sector has been central to the country’s 2025 economic recovery, contributing a record 90 tons of gold and more than half of national gold export earnings and generating over US$9 billion in foreign exchange. He noted the sector now supports more than one million jobs and remains a vital economic lifeline for Ghana’s youth.
Despite its contribution, Gyamfi said illegal and irresponsible mining practices continue to threaten rivers, forests and farmlands. “No volume of gold is worth a human life,” he said, stressing that environmental protection remains paramount.
Gyamfi highlighted the mandate of the newly established Ghana GoldBod, created under Act 1140 to regulate, purchase and export all ASM gold, strengthen traceability and eliminate smuggling. The agency has introduced competitive pricing systems, licensing reforms, and a task force that has already arrested several illegal traders.
By 2026, he said, Ghana will roll out a blockchain-enabled track-and-trace system to verify the origin of every gram of gold purchased. The country is also constructing an ISO-certified assay laboratory to modernize quality control and phase out outdated methods that enable fraud.
Gyamfi urged destination countries to stop turning a blind eye to illicit gold inflows and called for an international certification regime similar to the Kimberley Process for diamonds.
He appealed for global investment in sustainable ASM, announcing ongoing geological investigations, training programs, and financing partnerships to modernize mining operations and reduce environmental harm.
“ASM is not merely about mining gold,” Gyamfi said. “It is about uplifting communities, safeguarding livelihoods and protecting the environment for generations to come.”
He called on the DMCC, LBMA, OECD, World Gold Council and other partners to support developing countries’ efforts to reform ASM and strengthen the integrity of the global gold supply chain.