In a sweeping regulatory overhaul, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced that all existing gold trading licenses issued to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operators by the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) or the Minister for Mines-excluding those held by large-scale mining firms-are no longer valid.
The announcement follows the passage of the Ghana Gold Board Act (Act 1140) by Parliament on March 29, 2025, and its subsequent assent by the President on April 2, 2025.
The new law grants GoldBod full authority as the exclusive legal entity to buy, sell, assay, and export gold produced by licensed ASM operators in Ghana.
According to a statement issued by GoldBod, on Monday, April 14, effective May 1, 2025, "no person other than the Ghana Gold Board is permitted to export ASM gold from Ghana." The measure is designed to curb smuggling, streamline trade, and improve government oversight in the ASM sector, which contributes over 30% of Ghana's total gold production.
