LONDON, United Kingdom, July 21, 2026/APO Group/ —
The World Gold Council (WGC) (www.Gold.org) and the Government of the Republic of Ghana (GoG), acting through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), enhance supply chain integrity, and combat illicit finance and gold flows.
The GoG and WGC share a vision of establishing a national network of accessible and trusted processing plants, operating to the highest standards of responsible sourcing and providing artisanal miners with sufficient incentives to direct artisanal gold to the formal supply chain. In support of this, the GoG and WGC intend to cooperate on policy and standards development, capacity building, support for traceability and origin verification technology solutions, as well as skills, training and educational support to artisanal mining communities.
As a first concrete step in this strategic partnership, the GoG and WGC are today, pleased to announce that the WGC has committed to an initial development grant of $250,000 in support of efforts towards cooperative registration under one of Ghana’s flagship programmes, rCOMSDEP.
This MOU reflects the parties shared commitment to unlocking the positive social and economic potential of responsible ASGM for the people of Ghana, contributing to community wellbeing, environmental protection and the integrity of the gold market.
Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Republic 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 ensuring that the benefits of Ghana’s gold resources are realised by our communities and our nation as a whole.”
David Tait, Chief Executive Officer, World Gold Council, said:
“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.”
