The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is solidifying its authority over the nation’s gold trade with a firm deadline of June 21, 2025, for all traders to transition to its new licensing regime—marking a decisive regulatory shift from fragmented oversight to centralized control.
In a press release signed by Media Relations Officer Prince Kwame Minkah and issued on Thursday, May 22, GoldBod confirmed a one-month extension from the original May 21 deadline, granted in response to mounting appeals from gold industry stakeholders. However, the Board emphasized this will be the final grace period, warning that further extensions will not be considered.
“After June 21, only GoldBod-issued licenses will be valid for buying, selling, or dealing in gold. Any attempt to operate under old licenses from the defunct PMMC or the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will be deemed a violation under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140),” the statement noted.
While traders with legacy licenses can continue local operations until the deadline, GoldBod has immediately revoked all export rights previously attached to those licenses. As of May 22, GoldBod remains the sole entity authorized to export small-scale gold from Ghana—a move that signals tighter government control aimed at curbing illegal smuggling and improving revenue transparency.
Industry watchers see the reforms as part of a broader effort to sanitise the gold sector, ensure traceability, and align operations with international standards. The centralization of export functions also reflects the government’s push to enhance regulatory compliance and boost national earnings from gold.
GoldBod urged all traders to complete the transition by applying through its official website, www.goldbod.gov.gh, reminding applicants that while submissions can continue after June 21, no trading will be allowed without a valid GoldBod license beyond the deadline.
As Ghana seeks to tighten loopholes in its lucrative but often opaque gold sector, GoldBod called for stakeholder cooperation in achieving its goal of a more transparent, accountable, and nationally beneficial gold industry.
