Officials of Mentras Oro at the unveiling of the Ghana Gold Pendant Package
Mentras Oro has unveiled its Ghana Gold Pendant Package, an initiative designed to deepen value addition in the gold industry, create jobs, and enhance tourism revenue.
Speaking at a soiree to announce the project, Sales Manager Peridot Watterson explained that the company is focusing on refining and designing gold locally rather than exporting it in raw form. This, he noted, ensures more value remains within the economy while providing employment for artisans and support staff. Hiring is expected to expand further as demand grows.
“We are not only selling; we are adding value to Ghana’s gold, creating employment, increasing tourism, and contributing to Ghana’s economy as a whole. Mentras Oro’s goal is to position Ghana as a global hub for refined gold products and ensure every Ghanaian owns a piece of gold,” Watterson said.
He added that the initiative aligns with Ghana’s strategy to expand value addition in its extractive sector and stressed that the company is open to partnerships with both local and international stakeholders.
Industry data highlights the potential benefits of such efforts. According to Reuters, Ghana’s unrefined gold output in 2024 stood at 149,300 kilogrammes. With refined gold attracting a premium of about US$2,307 per kilogramme in 2022, refining all of the country’s 2024 output before export could have generated an additional US$345 million – raising total gold export earnings from US$11.64 billion to nearly US$11.98 billion.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ms. Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto, lauded the initiative, describing it as a step that extends beyond ownership of gold to job creation and tourism growth.
“What Mentras Oro is doing goes beyond allowing everyone to own a piece of gold. It is an effort that promotes value addition, significantly helps with unemployment, and directly impacts tourism in the country,” she said.
Houadjeto also encouraged companies in the extractive sector to emulate this example by investing in value addition and assured that the Authority remains committed to providing support whenever required.