Association of Small-Scale Miners back Gold Board initiative
Tue Mar 04 2025
The National Concerned Association of Small-Scale Miners, Ghana (NCSSMAG), has thrown its full support behind the Mahama government’s decision to establish a Gold Board (GOLDBOD) to regulate the trading of gold from small-scale miners.
In a statement issued on March 4, 2025 by the president of the Association Michael Kwadwo Peprah, NCSSMAG described the initiative as a long-overdue intervention that will ensure fair pricing, eliminate exploitation by foreign buyers, and maximize the country’s benefits from the small-scale mining sector.
According to the association, the consultative and transparent approach taken by the Sammy Gyamfi-led GOLDBOD Technical Committee is commendable, signaling a commitment to creating a fair and well-structured gold trading system.
"For us in the NCSSMAG, it is refreshing to see that our suggestion for a well-structured gold trading sector is being prioritized by the new Mahama government," the statement read.
Beyond regulating pricing, the proposed Gold Board is expected to offer crucial support to small-scale miners. NCSSMAG welcomed the government’s plan to use GOLDBOD as a vehicle for concession viability assessments, geological investigations, equipment financing, sustainable environmental management, and concessional financing. The association sees this initiative as a “game-changer” that will transform the small-scale mining industry.
The statement also highlighted challenges miners currently face due to the limited capacity of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to compete in the gold-buying market. NCSSMAG noted that inadequate government funding has hindered PMMC’s effectiveness, forcing miners to rely on foreign buyers, which has led to revenue losses for both miners and the state.
NCSSMAG, therefore, urged the Mahama administration and Parliament to allocate sufficient resources to GOLDBOD to ensure its success. The association believes that, at a time of economic crisis, the Gold Board offers a viable means of generating foreign exchange to stabilize the cedi and revitalize the economy.
“We therefore call on government to expedite the processes for the establishment of the GOLDBOD as a matter of urgency,” the statement urged. NCSSMAG further appealed to all stakeholders to rally behind the initiative in the collective interest of the nation.
Source: https://www.modernghana.com/