{
  "id": 3671466,
  "title": "We all need to chip in – Ken Ashigbey warns local gold refining will come with pain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/we-all-need-to-chip-in-ken-ashigbey-warns-local-gold-refining-will",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-27T04:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/we-all-need-to-chip-in-ken-ashigbey-warns-local-gold-refining-will-come-with-pain/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has cautioned that Ghana's aim to refine gold locally will bring extra costs to industry participants. Yet, he believes the nation must accept some hardship to fully capitalize on its mineral resources. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, the chamber head emphasized that local content projects naturally entail expenses. \"But before I even get to the time scale, in terms of the issue about the cost, you know, and again, we should all realise the fact that you know, when you want to do these local content, it comes with some cost.\"\n\nAshigbey believes the financial strain shouldn't solely fall on mining companies. \"All of us need to chip in. The more we do in this country, and the more we all work together, government needs to put its skin in the game,\" he said. He called on the government to reassess taxes and levies that contribute to the refining costs. The issue, he explained, stems from taxes and levies applied to refining processes, and the government needs to address that. \"The issue, of course, is that it is coming from the taxes and the levies that are on; government would have to look at that, and I know that conversation is going on.\"\n\nPrivate refinery owners, he added, should invest in technology to cut their operating expenses. \"The issues of these private sector people who own the refineries in terms of the technology that they need to put in to be able to ensure that they reduce their cost, it’s something that we need to do.\"\n\nEnergy costs are another significant worry, according to Ashigbey. \"The issues of even power, you know, currently the cost of power, so there might be some policy decisions that would have to be taken.\" He suggested that the government could explore cheaper hydroelectric power for refineries due to their crucial role. \"Because of the criticality of refineries, is it possible that in the energy mix, we will give them, you know, a lot more of the hydro that is cheaper?\"\n\nHe also pointed to planned solar investments under the 24-hour economy as a potential solution to lower energy expenses. \"The conversations, the 24-hour economy is thinking of putting together some solar, you know, large solar plants, you know, and which will reduce the cost of energy to around 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.\" The self-financing aggregators have been instructed by GoldBod to refine gold doré locally before exporting from September 1, 2026. This means unrefined gold doré will no longer be allowed for export. The refining must be carried out at an approved or designated GoldBod refinery, with the expense shouldered by the aggregator or its approved off-taker. This directive is part of a broader effort to promote local value addition. GoldBod aims to achieve LBMA accreditation for at least one local refinery by 2030, while the government seeks to halt the export of raw minerals. Ashigbey views this beneficiation goal as worthwhile but stresses that the transition must be handled collaboratively. \"So I think that this issue of beneficiation is a good thing for us, and, you know, all of us need to chip in,\" he said. He stressed the need for government and industry to collaborate to alleviate the financial impact. \"But it has to be done collaboratively. Government need to embrace industry to all work together so that we all can reduce the cost of doing this, because we're looking at the issues of value.\"",
  "summary": "The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Ken Ashigbey, has warned that Ghana’s push to refine gold locally will impose additional costs on industry players.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Joy Business",
        "title": "We all need to chip in – Ken Ashigbey warns local gold refining will come with pain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/we-all-need-to-chip-in-ken-ashigbey-warns-local-gold-refining-will-3675313",
        "published": "2026-08-27T04:12:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}