The Government of Ghana has entered into a strategic partnership with the World Gold Council (WGC) aimed at curbing illegal mining and restructuring the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector through the establishment of a fully traceable gold supply chain.
The collaboration, spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will be implemented under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP). The programme provides for the creation of regulated, community-based gold processing plants designed to formalize gold production, improve oversight, and eliminate illicit trade.
The partnership was discussed at a high-level engagement between the Ministry and the World Gold Council on Monday, 5 January 2026. Speaking at the meeting, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, said the initiative aligns with government’s broader strategy to formalize ASM operations, promote responsible mining, add value to Ghana’s mineral resources, and decisively address illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
He explained that the initiative builds on discussions held at the 2025 Mining in Motion Summit and is intended to channel gold production through transparent and regulated systems, thereby cutting off informal and illegal supply chains that have long undermined the sector.
Chief Executive Officer of the World Gold Council, David Tait, described Ghana’s rCOMSDEP framework as a credible and scalable model for the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining globally. He noted that the programme responds to growing international demand for responsibly sourced gold by guaranteeing traceability, standardization, and compliance with global market requirements. According to him, the initiative is also expected to attract responsible investment into the ASM subsector.
At the core of the partnership is the development of an integrated gold value chain built on three pillars: end-to-end traceability from mine to market, centralized community processing plants to aggregate and monitor gold output, and the use of official buying and marketing channels.
Both parties agreed on a clear implementation roadmap, including the formation of a joint technical working team to ensure transparency and accountability during implementation. The first processing plants are expected to become operational within six months, subject to the confirmation of funding.
The Ministry said the partnership marks a significant step toward transforming Ghana’s gold sector by strengthening transparency and sustainability, ensuring fair benefits for mining communities, and repositioning the ASM sector as a responsible and reliable contributor to national economic development.
Story by Sheila Otuo – Baffour