Ghana’s artisanal gold export sector has recorded unprecedented revenue of over $8 billion between January and mid-October 2025, nearly double last year’s figure. Goldbod attributes this strong performance to enhanced regulation, better compliance, and stronger partnerships within the sector.
Ghana’s artisanal gold export sector has achieved historic results, generating over $8 billion USD between January and mid-October 2025, according to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). This is nearly double the $4.61 billion USD recorded in 2024. This figure, derived from 81,719 kilograms of exported gold, reflects the country’s increased control over artisanal mining activities and strengthened oversight of the gold trade.
Against the backdrop of soaring gold prices on the international market and a global economy seeking quality gold, like Ghana’s, Ghana can legitimately target $10 billion in foreign exchange earnings from its gold exports. In this context, the country will be able to strategically reinvest in reshaping its agricultural policy, particularly in coffee and especially cocoa exports, where Ghana aims to remain a global leader.
GoldBod attributes this strong growth to bold reforms aimed at combating smuggling, improving traceability, and ensuring export revenues return to the Ghanaian economy. Since its establishment in March 2025, the agency has worked closely with the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to regulate the artisanal gold trade, enhance transparency, and curb revenue leakage. These efforts have transformed the once loosely regulated sector into a key driver of Ghana’s exchange rate stability.
With this increase in gold production revenue, it is crucial for policymakers to start using gold again as a guarantee for exchange currency, as a guarantee for currency stability. The CDI needs this to gain respect in West Africa and worldwide, needs it to halt the shocks of devaluation, and needs it to stabilize and reduce the costs and losses of purchases on the international market.
Ghanaian officials state that the impact of these reforms is already evident, with the country’s foreign exchange reserves strengthening and investor confidence in the mining sector improving. However, experts warn that sustaining these gains will require a continuous fight against illegal mining and increased investment in local refining to boost value addition, as the global gold price now stands around $4,150 USD per ounce, up over 50% from last year and reaching record highs in October 2025.