The Christian Council of Ghana has commended the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) for its efforts to promote transparency, responsible gold trading and environmental sustainability in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
The Council made the commendation when a delegation paid a courtesy call on the management of GoldBod as part of efforts to engage key institutions on issues concerning responsible resource governance and sustainable national development.
The delegation was led by Dr. Joyce Laco Steiner, Director of Programmes and Advocacy of the Christian Council of Ghana.
Dr. Steiner described Ghana’s mineral resources as a divine endowment and stressed the need for the country to manage them with integrity, accountability and a strong sense of responsibility.
According to her, Ghana’s mineral wealth should not only serve the needs of the present generation but must also be protected and managed in a manner that preserves its value for future generations.
She emphasised the importance of strengthening systems that promote transparency and responsible exploitation of natural resources, particularly gold, which remains one of Ghana’s most important economic assets.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, used the engagement to brief the Christian Council delegation on the institution’s mandate and its role in Ghana’s economic development.
Mr. Gyamfi explained that GoldBod operates under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), with a mandate that places the institution at the centre of the country’s gold trading and related activities.
He highlighted GoldBod’s contribution to foreign exchange generation, noting the importance of gold to Ghana’s efforts to strengthen its external position and support macroeconomic stability.
He said the institution was also pursuing initiatives aimed at ensuring that a greater portion of the value generated from Ghana’s gold resources is retained within the domestic economy.
Among the initiatives highlighted were efforts to expand local gold refining and promote jewellery production.
These measures, he explained, are intended to move Ghana beyond the export of largely unprocessed gold and create opportunities for greater value addition, job creation and industrial development.
Mr. Gyamfi further disclosed efforts to establish an international-standard fire assay laboratory to strengthen the testing and verification of gold produced and traded in the country.
The facility is expected to contribute to greater confidence in the quality and purity of gold, while supporting transparency and credibility within the gold value chain.
The CEO also highlighted environmental interventions being pursued by GoldBod, particularly land reclamation and the rehabilitation of water systems affected by mining activities.
The environmental component of the institution’s work is particularly significant amid growing concerns over the impact of irresponsible mining on farmlands, forests and water bodies across the country.
Gold mining, while contributing significantly to Ghana’s economy, has also generated concerns over environmental degradation in mining communities. Efforts to reclaim degraded lands and restore affected water systems are therefore considered important components of sustainable resource management.
The engagement between the Christian Council and GoldBod reaffirmed a shared commitment to promoting responsible management of Ghana’s mineral resources and ensuring that the country’s gold wealth contributes meaningfully to sustainable national development.
The Council’s position also underscored the importance of ethical leadership and accountability in the management of natural resources, while GoldBod’s presentation highlighted the institution’s efforts to combine economic objectives with value addition and environmental responsibility.
Both sides are expected to continue supporting initiatives that promote transparency, responsible gold trading and sustainable development, with the broader objective of ensuring that Ghana’s mineral wealth benefits both current and future generations.
By 1960news.com
