{
  "id": 3718045,
  "title": "Chamber of Mines seeks cheaper power, tax relief to support local gold refining",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/chamber-of-mines-seeks-cheaper-power-tax-relief-to-support-local-gold",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-27T05:05:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Joy Business",
    "slug": "joy-business",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/chamber-of-mines-seeks-cheaper-power-tax-relief-to-support-local-gold-refining/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghana Chamber of Mines is advocating for tax relief and cheaper energy to support local gold refining, as the country aims to retain more value from its gold resources. Dr Ken Ashigbey, the Chamber's CEO, highlighted that the costs of power, taxes and other operational expenses could make local refining less cost-effective, necessitating collaboration between government and industry to alleviate the burden. Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express, Dr Ashigbey explained that while local value addition comes with added costs, all stakeholders must contribute to the success of the policy. He emphasized that government must also review taxes and levies affecting the refining sector, urging all parties to contribute to reducing the cost. Discussions are ongoing regarding the taxes and levies associated with the refining drive, and private refinery operators are encouraged to invest in technology that could help lower their operating costs. Dr Ashigbey specifically suggested that policymakers consider allocating more hydroelectric power to refineries due to their strategic importance, noting that the 24-hour economy program's plans for large-scale solar plants could also reduce energy costs. Ghana is intensifying its efforts to process more gold locally, with GoldBod directing Self-Financing Aggregators to refine gold doré in Ghana before export, starting from September 1, 2026. This move aligns with the broader government objective of retaining more value from Ghana’s gold resources and is part of GoldBod's mandate under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025.",
  "summary": "The Ghana Chamber of Mines is calling for targeted energy interventions to help make local gold refining commercially viable as Ghana moves to retain more value from its gold resources.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Chamber of Mines seeks cheaper power, tax relief to support local gold refining",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/chamber-of-mines-seeks-cheaper-power-tax-relief-to-support-local-gold-3718770",
        "published": "2026-08-27T05:05:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}