World Gold Council invests $250,000 in Ghana mining formalisation programme 

Wed July 22 2026

The World Gold Council (WGC) and the Government of Ghana have signed a strategic partnership aimed at formalising the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, with the council committing an initial $250,000 development grant to support the initiative.

Announced on 21 July in Accra, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets out a framework for closer collaboration between the WGC and Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to improve responsible sourcing, strengthen supply chain integrity, and curb illicit gold trade and financial flows.

According to the WGC the funding will support cooperative registration under Ghana’s flagship rCOMSDEP programme, marking the first tangible step in the partnership.

The agreement outlines plans to establish a nationwide network of gold processing plants that meet internationally recognised responsible sourcing standards. The initiative aims to encourage artisanal miners to channel their gold through the formal market by providing greater incentives to move away from informal and illicit trading.

Beyond infrastructure, the partnership will focus on policy development, capacity building, traceability and origin verification technologies, as well as skills development and educational programmes for artisanal mining communities.

Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said the agreement underscores the country’s commitment to transforming the sector into a regulated and economically empowering industry.

“This partnership reflects Ghana’s clear commitment to transforming artisanal and small-scale gold mining into a responsible, well regulated and economically empowering sector.

By working with the World Gold Council, we are strengthening our efforts to improve the formalisation of ASGM, eliminate harmful practices, and ensuring that the benefits of Ghana’s gold resources are realised by our communities and our nation as a whole.”

World Gold Council CEO David Tait said Ghana’s position as one of the world’s leading gold producers made it well placed to demonstrate responsible practices in the artisanal mining sector.

“Ghana is a global leader in gold production and has demonstrated real ambition in tackling the challenges and opportunities of artisanal and small-scale mining. This MoU provides a strong platform for collaboration, bringing together government leadership, international standards and industry expertise, to help build a trusted, transparent and responsible ASGM value chain that works for miners, communities and markets alike.”

The partners said the agreement is intended to unlock the social and economic benefits of responsible artisanal mining while supporting environmental protection and improving confidence in Ghana’s gold supply chain.

Source: https://www.miningreview.com/