'We need to speed up' - Ken Ashigbey on GoldBod’s traceability programme

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the rapid implementation of the Ghana Gold Board’s (GoldBod) gold traceability programme, describing it as critical to tackling illegal gold trading and the persistent galamsey menace.

Speaking on The Point of View on Monday, August 17, 2026, Ashigbey welcomed GoldBod’s ongoing work on a track-and-trace system but stressed the need for urgency.

“I think one of the good things that has happened to us is the gold board at the market end. If we are able to replicate the same approach when it comes to responsible sourcing in mining, that will solve the problem," he explained.

"...But unfortunately, because traceability is taking too long to implement, we are saddled with a lot of illegal mining. The gold board does not buy directly; it purchases through its agents, who are sometimes not traceable. For us, it is good that the gold board has said it is working on traceability, but we need to speed that up,” he said.

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He explained that faster rollout of the programme would be crucial in ensuring gold entering the formal market can be linked to responsible sources and in disrupting illicit flows linked to illegal mining.

"Unfortunately, Bernard, we may have to go back to the days when we set up the studio for a whole day, dealing only with the issues of galamsey, because if we are not careful, the broader issues around illicit flows and related challenges will persist," he added.

Watch his comments below.

“It’s good that the GoldBod said it is working on traceability, but we need to speed that up.” — Ing. Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

He says faster implementation of GoldBod’s traceability programme will be crucial in tackling illegal gold trading and the… pic.twitter.com/iAChAzotpH

— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) August 17, 2026