Chamber of Mines CEO Hails New Gold Refining Directive as Boost for Local Value Creation
The Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) has issued a new directive requiring all self-financing aggregators (SFAs) to refine gold doré locally before export, in a move welcomed by industry leaders as a major step toward retaining more value within Ghana’s borders. In a notice to SFAs, GOLDBOD announced that no gold doré shall be exported in its unrefined state going forward. The directive also stipulates that every offtake agreement or commercial arrangement between an SFA and an approved offtaker must specifically include a clause mandating the refining of all gold doré in Ghana prior to export. Reacting to the development on TV3’s Ghana Tonight programme, Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO Ing Ken Ashigbey described the policy as a positive move, noting its alignment with existing arrangements for large-scale mining companies. “It’s one of the positive steps that we’re taking,” he said, referencing the current agreement requiring 30% of large-scale mine doré to be refined locally and, in partnership with London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) refineries, sold to the Bank of Ghana as part of reserve accumulation. Ashigbey expressed optimism that extending similar requirements to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold would enhance value retention. “If we’re going to get to that point, then the issue about value retention would improve,” he stated. He also highlighted the potential for the 30% arrangement to help local refineries build capacity and eventually achieve LBMA accreditation, further boosting local industry. However, Ashigbey cautioned that Ghana’s refining sector must continue to modernise and improve its competitiveness. “There are things that we need to do to make sure that our refinery in this country is also competitive, so that if we are refining in this country, we’re doing that very competitively,” he advised. The new GOLDBOD directive marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to add value to its gold exports and promote the growth of local refining capacity, with stakeholders hopeful it will lead to increased economic benefits for the nation. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Gas Charts Expansion Path, Eyes Onshore Pipeline to Boost Power and Industry
The Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) is gearing up for a major expansion drive, aiming to reinvest its strong financial gains to boost operational efficiency and make gas more accessible for power generation and industry. Chief Executive Officer Judith Adjobah Blay announced that the company’s next focus will be on expansion and reinvestment, following its recent financial success. “That is the next phase, beyond profit, there is expansion and reinvestment into Ghana Gas,” she stated. Central to these plans is a proposed onshore pipeline project that would stretch from Takoradi to Tema, extending the supply of gas from the Atuabo processing facility beyond the Western Region. The pipeline would traverse the Central and Eastern regions, ultimately reaching the industrial hub of Tema. GNGC anticipates that the expanded infrastructure will support industrial growth along the pipeline’s route by making gas more available to businesses and factories in those areas. The company’s ambitious expansion plans were showcased during an industrial tour by the commissioners and management of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), GNGC’s economic regulator. Richard Kirk-Mensah, Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana Gas, said the visit provided PURC with an invaluable opportunity to witness the company’s operations and expansion projects firsthand. “Their visit aims to give them insight into Ghana Gas’s operations, particularly the expansion projects at their sites. Rather than just presenting slides and discussing verbally, allowing them to see the facilities and the ongoing work firsthand will give them a better understanding of the company’s plans and activities,” Kirk-Mensah explained. With its sights set on expansion and reinvestment, Ghana Gas is positioning itself as a key driver of Ghana’s industrial and power sectors, promising increased availability and reliability of gas supply for years to come. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Parliament to Probe $1.7 Billion Gold Board Loss, Summon GOLDBOD CEO
Parliament is set to open an inquiry into the reported US$1.7 billion loss recorded by the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP). The move follows a formal motion filed by the Minority Caucus, seeking a parliamentary investigation and the summoning of GOLDBOD Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi to provide explanations regarding the controversial transactions. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin confirmed the development, stating that parliamentary scrutiny would help clarify whether the reported $1.7 billion (GHS22 billion) constitutes a genuine financial loss or a policy-related cost associated with the DGPP’s implementation. “With the motion they have filed, which was received in my office on the 21st of August, 2026, just three days ago, I have gone through the motion myself and I intend to admit the motion because we have to at least have an end to litigation as to whether it’s a loss or it’s a cost,” he said. Bagbin explained that the parliamentary process would allow lawmakers to thoroughly examine the issue and bring clarity to the public. He added that Ghanaians would have the opportunity to follow the proceedings and form their own informed opinions. “This House will have the opportunity to go through it. And please, Ghanaians are very intelligent people. They will listen, they will read in between the lines and they will make their decisions,” he said. The upcoming inquiry is expected to provide much-needed transparency and accountability on the financial management of the DGPP and the reported multi-billion dollar loss. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
National Security Coordinator Calls for United Front Against Political Vigilantism
Ghana’s National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak, has called for stronger preventive action and closer collaboration among security agencies, private security firms, and local communities to combat political vigilantism and safeguard the nation’s democracy. Speaking at a National Policy Dialogue organised by Election Watch Ghana on August 25, 2026, COP Abdul Razak addressed the evolving landscape of political mobilisation in Ghana. He warned that while the visibility of vigilante groups may have diminished, the underlying threat remains, with some networks now operating through less visible and more informal channels. “We must not mistake the reduced visibility of these groups, regardless of their name, as meaning the threat has disappeared. Mobilisation has shifted to local businesses, private security arrangements, and other informal channels,” he cautioned. COP Abdul Razak stressed the importance of intelligence-led, early-warning systems, arguing that prevention, not just reaction, must be central to Ghana’s fight against political violence. “Prevention must remain at the centre of our approach to political violence. It is far easier to act when inequalities are emerging than to dismantle entrenched foundations of our political system,” he said. He urged full utilisation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), to detect and address threats early. He also underscored the crucial role of private security firms and communities as partners in maintaining security, provided they operate within the law and complement state authority. “Private security companies and communities must become part of the security architecture. But they must operate within the law and in a manner that complements, rather than substitutes for, the legitimate authority of the state,” COP Abdul Razak emphasised. He further highlighted the need to de-politicise enforcement and link it to broader legal and systemic reforms. The National Policy Dialogue, attended by security officials, politicians, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, focused on reviewing the implementation of Act 999 and strengthening Ghana’s ability to prevent political violence and protect its democratic foundations. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
World Bank Warns Majority of Ghanaians Still in Poverty Amid Uneven Economic Growth
Despite recent economic growth, more than half of Ghanaians continue to live in poverty, according to new findings from the World Bank. At the launch of the World Bank Group’s 10th Ghana Economic Update, Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, revealed that 56.4% of Ghanaians remain poor, with growing spatial disparities highlighting a worrying disconnect between the country’s economic performance and everyday living conditions. “56.4% of Ghanaians remain in poverty. And spatial disparities are widening,” Dr. Taliercio O’Brien stated. He pointed out that while Ghana has recorded headline growth, the benefits have yet to reach a broad base of the population. “It’s a disconnect between the headline growth that is yet to reach most of the population,” he added. The World Bank’s report also cited the structure of Ghana’s economic growth as a major concern. According to Dr. Taliercio O’Brien, the sectors driving growth have limited capacity to create jobs, a problem that is becoming more pronounced as Ghana’s youthful population enters the labour market. “Growth is led by sectors with limited employment absorption relative to its growing young population entering the labour market in the next decade,” he explained, describing the situation as a “structural imbalance that also demands urgent attention.” The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to ensure that economic gains translate into real improvements in living standards for all Ghanaians, not just a select few. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Signs 10 Major Bills into Law, Ushering in Wide-Ranging Reforms
President John Dramani Mahama has given his assent to 10 significant Bills passed by Parliament during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, paving the way for sweeping legislative reforms across key sectors of the Ghanaian economy. The presidential endorsement, which took place following the parliamentary sitting that concluded on July 31, 2026, officially transforms the approved Bills into law. This move enables relevant government agencies and institutions to begin implementing the new measures contained in the legislation. The newly enacted laws span a diverse range of areas, including taxation, revenue mobilisation, justice administration, national defence, maritime regulation, and the cocoa sector. The Acts signed include the Customs Act, 2026; Community Service Act, 2026; Tribunals Act, 2026; Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026; National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026; Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026; Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2026; Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026; Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026; and Excise Act, 2026. Among the most impactful are the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, Excise Act, and Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, which are set to shape Ghana’s approach to taxation and revenue collection going forward. The passage and enactment of these laws underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening justice delivery, regulating vital economic activities, ensuring national security, and enhancing government revenue. The reforms are expected to have far-reaching implications for trade, the cocoa industry, and the administration of justice in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ayitey Powers Remanded Over Alleged Threat Against NSA Boss
Former Ghanaian boxing star Michael Ayitey Okai, widely known as Ayitey Powers, has been ordered into police custody for one week as investigations continue into an alleged death threat against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. The Dansoman Circuit Court issued the remand order on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after Ayitey Powers was brought before the court following his arrest by the Accra Regional Police Command a day earlier. His arrest came in the wake of a viral social media video purportedly showing him threatening the life of Mr. Ampofo Ankrah. Ayitey Powers is scheduled to make his next court appearance on September 2, 2026. The case has attracted the attention of the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC), which had earlier called for his arrest and prosecution over the alleged remarks. Police investigations are ongoing as the court considers the appropriate course of action in the high-profile case. Source: Apexnewsgh.com