The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has made a strong case for a fair and responsible approach to mining in Ghana, calling on stakeholders to ensure that the country’s vast mineral wealth benefits all, especially the communities where the resources are extracted.
Speaking at the 3rd Ghana Mining Expo Technical Conference in Takoradi, Mr. Gyamfi emphasized the urgent need to realign Ghana’s mining sector with principles of equity, sustainability, and national development. He said while Ghana remains one of Africa’s leading gold producers, the benefits have not been equitably distributed, with mining communities often bearing the brunt of environmental degradation and social displacement without seeing proportional improvements in livelihoods.
“The time has come for us to build a responsible, equitable, and people-centered mining economy that safeguards the environment, improves local livelihoods, and creates decent jobs for the youth,” Mr. Gyamfi declared.
He warned that the current model, where multinationals dominate production and profits while local communities are left impoverished, is unsustainable. He pointed to the lack of significant linkages between the mining sector and the broader Ghanaian economy, stressing the need for local content policies to be enforced and expanded.
“GoldBod is here to demonstrate that Ghanaian firms can play a leading role in sustainable gold production,” he said, outlining the company’s plans to invest in eco-friendly practices, employ more locals, and support community development projects in mining areas.
Mr. Gyamfi also called for comprehensive reforms in the licensing regime, greater transparency in the mineral value chain, and more robust regulation to clamp down on illegal mining, which he described as “a national security threat.”
He concluded with a passionate plea for collaboration between government, industry, civil society, and traditional authorities to ensure that Ghana’s gold wealth becomes a tool for transformation, not a source of conflict or poverty.
