Ghana to Establish State-Owned Gold Refinery at Kotoka International Airport – Gold Board CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that GoldBod will establish a wholly state-owned, international-standard gold refinery as part of efforts to boost local refining and strengthen Ghana’s role in the global gold value chain.

Speaking at the maiden Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Mr. Gyamfi explained that the initiative forms part of the reset agenda of the Mahama-led administration, which seeks to shift Ghana from exporting raw doré to refined bullion.

He emphasized that it was unacceptable for Ghana—Africa’s leading gold producer—to continue exporting raw gold without significant value addition.

The refinery project will be sited on a parcel of land secured by the Gold Board at the cargo village of Kotoka International Airport, where an ultra-modern ISO-certified Assay Laboratory will also be constructed. The new facility will replace Ghana’s current assay regime with the internationally recognized fire assay standard, ensuring greater credibility and transparency in gold testing and exports.

“On the land secured by the Gold Board at the Kotoka International Airport, we will build a wholly state-owned and international-standard gold refinery to advance local refining and transition Ghana from exporting doré to bullion,” Gyamfi stated.

Beyond refining, he disclosed that strategic partnerships are being explored for the creation of a ‘Gold Village’ in Ghana—envisioned as a continental hub for jewellery and ornament production.

The CEO further revealed that the Gold Board is already working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, including the Gold Coast Refinery, to commence local refining of gold purchased and exported by the Board.