Sankofa Gold targets 70kg output after 9-month shutdown

Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited, a state-owned company, aims to produce 70 kilograms of gold by the end of October 2026 after a nine-month shutdown. The company is focusing on restoring operations and increasing processing efficiency, with Senior Plant Manager Reginald Soweh stating that they plan to process 850 tonnes of material daily to achieve this goal. The management targets an improvement in gold recovery rates from 75% to 80%, with a long-term goal of exceeding 90%.

During the shutdown, the company carried out maintenance works on the processing plant and addressed concerns regarding the capacity of its existing tailings dam. A new tailings dam is being constructed to handle the waste generated from gold processing, as the current facility is nearing its capacity. The new dam is 80% complete and is estimated to cost US$5 million, financed internally by the company.

The shutdown has raised concerns about the company's financial situation, with the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson expressing worry about the company's obligations to its staff and other financial responsibilities. The new tailings dam is expected to support continued operations, but its readiness to receive waste will be crucial in determining whether production can continue uninterrupted.