The World Gold Council (WGC) and the Government of the Republic of Ghana (GoG) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on formalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), enhancing supply chain integrity, and combating illicit finance and gold flows.

This collaboration aims to establish a national network of trusted processing plants adhering to the highest standards of responsible sourcing, providing artisanal miners with incentives to channel gold into the formal supply chain.

As part of their partnership, the WGC has committed an initial development grant of $250,000 to support Ghana’s flagship programme, rCOMSDEP, which facilitates cooperative registration of artisanal miners.

Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, said, “This partnership reflects Ghana’s clear commitment to transforming artisanal and small-scale gold mining into a responsible, well-regulated and economically empowering sector. By working with the World Gold Council, we are strengthening our efforts to improve the formalisation of ASGM, eliminate harmful practices, and ensure that the benefits of Ghana’s gold resources are realised by our communities and our nation as a whole.”

David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council, added, “Ghana is a global leader in gold production and has demonstrated real ambition in tackling the challenges and opportunities of artisanal and small-scale mining. This MoU provides a strong platform for collaboration, bringing together government leadership, international standards and industry expertise, to help build a trusted, transparent and responsible ASGM value chain that works for miners, communities and markets alike.”

The MoU outlines cooperation on policy and standards development, capacity building, traceability and origin verification technologies, as well as skills training and educational support for artisanal mining communities.

Through this partnership, the GoG and WGC aim to unlock the social and economic potential of responsible ASGM in Ghana, contributing to community wellbeing, environmental protection, and maintaining the integrity of the gold market.

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