GoldBod, Gov't To Set Up Gold Processing Centres To Improve Traceability - Deputy Lands Minister

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is collaborating with government to establish gold processing centres for small-scale mining cooperatives to improve traceability of gold purchased from miners.

The move is aimed at enabling authorities to verify the source of gold that enters the formal supply chain and address concerns over whether gold bought by GoldBod comes from legitimate mining operations.

According to the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Dr Yusif Sulemana, government is engaging private investors to support the initiative, with some proposals already received.

He said the first processing centres are expected to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2027.

Dr Sulemana disclosed this in an interview with Channel One TV on the sidelines of the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra.

He explained that traceability has become a major issue whenever gold purchased by GoldBod is discussed, hence GoldBod's interest in ensuring a platform is put in place to trace gold to its rightful source.

"Why? Because the issue of traceability comes up any time we talk about gold that is being purchased by GoldBod. So, they are also interested in ensuring that we put in place a platform that will ensure that whatever gold that they buy can be traced to the right source. And so, we are collaborating with them," he said.

"GoldBod has expressed interest in facilitating the process of establishing some of these processing centres," he added.

Beyond traceability, the centres are expected to improve gold recovery rates for small-scale miners and reduce their dependence on mercury and cyanide, which pose serious environmental risks.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to formalise small-scale mining through cooperative schemes, strengthen oversight of the gold supply chain and promote environmentally responsible mining practices.