GoldBod Reforms Create 4,866 Direct Jobs in Less Than Two Years – CEO
By Magdalene Andoh The institutional, licensing and value-addition reforms introduced by the Ghana Gold Board have created 4,866 direct jobs in less than two years, Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., has disclosed.The jobs comprise 361 public-sector positions and 4,505 private-sector jobs, according to Mr. Gyamfi, who delivered the figures in a keynote address at […]
In the space of under two years, the Ghana Gold Board's institutional, licensing and value-addition reforms have generated 4,866 direct jobs, according to CEO Sammy Gyamfi, Esq. These positions encompass 361 roles within the public sector and 4,505 positions in the private sector. Speaking at the African Minerals Policy Forum – Mining in Motion 2026, Gyamfi elaborated that the reforms are expanding indirect employment opportunities across the gold value chain, particularly for artisanal smelters, jewellers and budding entrepreneurs.
He emphasized that Africa’s mineral wealth should be measured not solely by the quantity of minerals mined and exported, but also by the jobs, industries, revenue and shared prosperity created for its populace. Drawing attention to Africa’s burgeoning youth population grappling with high unemployment and scarce decent work opportunities, Gyamfi underscored the urgency of developing productive industries around the continent’s mineral resources.
He maintained that mining’s benefits should transcend extraction and exports, encompassing local processing, refining, equipment supply, financing, engineering and indigenous enterprise development. GoldBod’s reforms, Gyamfi explained, aim to provide Ghanaians with a greater stake in the gold industry and enhance the nation’s capacity to retain value from its mineral resources.
Among these initiatives is a planned Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Formalization and Financing Support Programme in 2027, to be rolled out jointly with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the University of Mines and Technology, with technical backing from South Africa’s Rand Refinery. This initiative seeks to boost gold production, mineral revenue and employment while curbing the environmental degradation and operational costs linked to artisanal and small-scale mining.
Gyamfi also spotlighted GoldBod’s Mining Support Programme, which involves geological surveys in collaboration with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority in Funsi, Upper West Region, and Bensere, Ashanti Region. These assessments are designed to mitigate investment risks, construct an investment-grade portfolio of mineral assets and bolster Ghana's negotiating leverage in prospective mining ventures.
He stressed Ghana's necessity to shift from relying on free-carried interests and royalties to securing equity ownership in sustainable mines. Gyamfi advocated for policies that empower local enterprises and young African professionals to become owners, geologists, engineers, equipment suppliers, financiers, processors, refiners, and traders in the mining sector.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
