By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, July 24, GNA – Dr Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, says gold exports from the small-scale sector stood at 51.5 tonnes valued at approximately US$5 billion in the first half of 2025 alone.
This figure far exceeds 26.4 tonnes with a value of US$1.8 billion from the small-scale mining sector over the same period in 2024.
Dr Forson said this when he presented the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament in Accra on the theme: “Resetting the Economy for the Ghana We Want.”
He said since its establishment in April 2025, the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) had initiated reforms to the licensing regime that governed the local gold trading sector and introduced new aggregation systems to effectively mop up gold from the artisanal, small-scale mining sector across the country.
He said these measures had already yielded tangible economic benefits within the short period of operation of GOLDBOD.
The Minister said simply put gold exports, in tonnes, from the small-scale mining sector for the first half of 2025 recorded about 100 per cent increase, over what was recorded in the same period last year.
Similarly, the value of gold exports from small-scale mining increased by about 180% for the first half of 2025, over that of the same period in 2024.
He said for the first time in Ghana’s history, gold exports from the small-scale mining sector had exceeded gold exports from the large-scale sector.
Dr Forson said the substantial foreign exchange inflows from the GOLDBOD’s operations in the artisanal, small-scale mining sector, had significantly strengthened the country’s reserves, improved the balance of payments and provided critical support to the Ghana Cedi.
“Mr. Speaker, this tells a story. A story of a country which has been denied the full benefits of its gold resources,” he added.
He said a story of a country where illegal gold trade and smuggling had been allowed to fester to the detriment of the wellbeing of the people.
He said on July 8, 2025, the President inaugurated a task force to tackle illegal goldtrade and smuggling.
He reiterated that the government would deal ruthlessly with anyone found engaging in illegal gold trade and smuggling, as these nation-wrecking activities sabotage the progress of the people.
GNA
Christian Akorlie