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Ghana has secured an initial US$250,000 development grant from the World Gold Council (WGC) under a new agreement aimed at accelerating the formalization of the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector.

The funding forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on July 21 through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation on responsible sourcing, gold traceability, regulatory development, and technical support for artisanal mining communities.

One of the first priorities is the expansion of Ghana’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development (rCOMSDEP) program. The World Gold Council’s grant will support the registration of artisanal mining cooperatives, giving more miners a route into the regulated sector.

Network of Processing Plants Planned

The partnership also includes plans to establish a national network of gold processing plants operating under internationally recognized responsible sourcing standards.

The facilities are intended to give artisanal miners reliable locations where gold can be processed and sold through legal channels. The expectation is that wider access to certified processing centres will reduce the volume of gold traded outside official systems while improving transparency throughout the supply chain.

Alongside the processing network, the two parties will work on technologies that verify the origin of gold, helping authorities track production from mine site to market.

Cooperation Spans Regulation, Training, and Technology

The MoU covers several areas of collaboration, including policy development, responsible mining standards, capacity building, and education for artisanal mining communities.

Training programs are expected to improve technical knowledge across the sector, while work on traceability systems and origin verification will support stronger oversight of gold movements.

These measures form part of Ghana’s ongoing effort to tighten controls on the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector and reduce illicit gold flows.

Government Links Reforms to Long-Term Sector Development

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has identified formalization as a key part of its strategy to improve governance in artisanal mining, increase the value retained from Ghana’s gold resources, and reduce harmful mining practices.

Bringing more miners into registered cooperatives, expanding access to certified processing facilities, and strengthening regulatory supervision are intended to improve compliance across the sector while increasing economic opportunities for mining communities.

Partnership Supports Responsible Gold Production

For the World Gold Council, the agreement provides an opportunity to work directly with one of the world’s largest gold-producing countries on practical measures that improve confidence in artisanal gold production.

The organizations intend to build a gold value chain with stronger accountability, improved environmental performance, and greater economic benefits for communities involved in artisanal mining, while supporting the integrity of both Ghana’s gold industry and international gold markets.

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