Accra: The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the rapid implementation of the Ghana Gold Board's (GoldBod) gold traceability programme, describing it as critical to tackling illegal gold trading and the persistent galamsey menace.
According to Ghana Web, Ashigbey, speaking on The Point of View on Monday, August 17, 2026, welcomed GoldBod's ongoing work on a track-and-trace system but stressed the need for urgency. He emphasized the advantage of the gold board's market-end initiatives and suggested that replicating a similar approach in responsible sourcing would address many of the existing challenges.
Ashigbey highlighted concerns about the slow progress of the traceability implementation, pointing out that delays have left the industry vulnerable to illegal mining practices. He noted that the gold board's reliance on agents, who are sometimes untraceable, complicates efforts to ensure responsible sourcing. Therefore, he urged for a faster rollout of the traceability programme to better monitor and regulate gold entering the formal market, ensuring it is linked to responsible sources.
The CEO expressed fears that without prompt action, the issues related to illicit gold flows and associated challenges would continue. He alluded to the possibility of returning to extensive public discussions on the matter if the situation does not improve, underscoring the critical nature of addressing these concerns swiftly.