The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has opened consultations with industry stakeholders to develop the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Formalisation and Financing Support Programme, slated for launch in 2027. The programme aims to bring informal miners into a regulated system, improve their access to finance and strengthen oversight of their operations.
Engagements involve relevant government agencies, small‑scale miners’ associations, civil society organisations and other industry participants. GoldBod says the consultations will gather input to ensure the programme meets industry needs and can be implemented sustainably.
The Board is collaborating with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF), with technical support from South Africa’s Rand Refinery. The initiative is expected to boost gold production and mineral revenues, create jobs, reduce operational costs and curb environmental degradation linked to mining.
GoldBod stresses that the programme is not intended to legitimise illegal mining but to help eligible informal miners transition into lawful operations and comply with national mining regulations. The Board has denied allegations that its CEO, Sammy Gyamfi, endorsed illegal mining, citing a selectively edited video as the source of the claim.
Consultations are part of broader efforts to tackle illegal mining by ensuring that eligible operators are licensed, monitored and held accountable for their environmental and operational practices.
Future steps will include finalising programme details, securing funding, and rolling out the formalisation and financing support framework to eligible operators in 2027.
