Sammy Gyamfi announces $10.8bn in small-scale gold exports for 2025

Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), has announced that the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector generated $10.8 billion in foreign exchange for the country in 2025. This significant revenue surge was driven by a substantial increase in legal gold exports, which rose from 63 tonnes in 2024 to nearly 104 tonnes in 2025. Speaking at the 2026 African Minerals Policy Forum, Gyamfi credited this growth to strategic reforms designed to formalise the sector and capture gold that was previously lost to smuggling.

The success of the sector has had a profound impact on the national economy, contributing to a 41% appreciation of the cedi against the US dollar during the period. To achieve these results, GoldBod implemented a four-tier licensing system and enhanced monitoring protocols to curb illegal trading. Additionally, the introduction of a blockchain-based traceability system has improved sustainable sourcing practices, ensuring that Ghanaian gold meets international standards for transparency and ethical production.

Beyond revenue generation, the formalisation of the ASM sector created 4,866 new jobs in 2025. GoldBod is also partnering with private refineries to enhance local value addition, moving toward a national goal of ending all raw mineral exports by 2030. Gyamfi concluded by urging other African nations to collaborate on mineral governance and regional policy frameworks to combat cross-border smuggling and maximize the value of the continent's natural resources.