Small-scale miners back GoldBod reforms - GNASSM report details

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has submitted a detailed report to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) after touring mining communities across the country to gather views on GoldBod’s pricing mechanism and ongoing reforms in the sector.

The report captures concerns and suggestions from small-scale miners, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in major mining districts.

GNASSM said the engagements were meant to explain the new regulatory direction, clear up compliance requirements and build trust in GoldBod’s pricing and purchasing system, a report by myjoyonline.com has said.

According to the association, the discussions revealed a growing willingness among miners to embrace responsible, licensed mining, especially if the system is fair and transparent.

“The consultations revealed that miners are more prepared than ever to operate within the law, provided the system is transparent, fair and commercially attractive,” the report stated.

Receiving the report, GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, praised GNASSM for what he described as an inclusive approach and assured miners of GoldBod’s readiness to work with them.

“Sustained engagement is critical if we are to advance formalisation, traceability and value retention in Ghana’s gold sector,” Gyamfi said.

He added that GoldBod remains committed to building “a transparent and efficient gold purchasing system” that supports responsible mining, while protecting national revenue.

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Among the key recommendations in the report are a proposed 2 per cent discount mechanism and a new licensing regime to discourage gold hoarding and reduce distortions in the local market, the report added.

GNASSM believes the proposals will make official gold purchasing more attractive, improve traceability and reduce the volume of gold sold through illegal channels.

The report also calls for simplified licensing processes and stronger collaboration between GoldBod, traditional authorities and miners to boost compliance and confidence in the reforms.

NA/AE

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