Gov’t must put its skin in the game – Chamber of Mines demands tax, power relief for local gold refining

The Ghana Chamber of Mines is urging the government to step up its involvement in making local gold refining more profitable. CEO Dr Ken Ashigbey stressed that the government must "put its skin in the game" as part of efforts to increase domestic value addition of Ghana's mineral resources. These efforts are part of a broader plan to reduce the export of raw gold by September 1, 2026, and instead encourage refined gold production locally.

Ashigbey argued that the financial burden should not be solely placed on industry, but shared by all parties, including the government. He suggested reviewing taxes and levies affecting refineries, investing in technological improvements to reduce production costs, and potentially granting refineries preferential access to cheaper hydroelectricity.

Solar energy investments could also help lower energy costs in the long term. Ashigbey emphasized that achieving these goals requires a collaborative effort between government and the industry, noting that Ghana has already incurred some costs under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Programme.