Look beyond the losses – Small-scale miners say gold refinery could cut youth unemployment
The Association of Small Scale Miners is urging stakeholders to look beyond the immediate operational costs of refining gold locally, arguing that the policy could create jobs and reduce youth unemployment.
The Association of Small Scale Miners argues that local gold refining could help reduce youth unemployment and create job opportunities, despite the operational costs associated with such a policy. Abdul Razak Alhassan, the Communication Director of the Association, stated that while the gold refining process presents significant challenges, the broader economic benefits should not be overlooked.
He emphasized that before entering the industry, industry players must consider their own realities and weigh the costs. The Ghana Gold Board recently directed Self-Financing Aggregators to refine gold doré locally before exporting it, effective from September 1, 2026. This directive aims to deepen local value addition in Ghana's gold industry and comply with the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025.
While the new requirement may increase costs for operators, the Association believes that the potential job creation for young people should be considered.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
