Ghana to Ban Unrefined Gold Exports from September 2026

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) announced a ban on the export of unrefined artisanal gold dore, effective September 1, 2026. This directive requires that gold dore, which is semi-refined gold produced after processing mined ore, must be refined locally before being exported.

Artisanal gold dore purchased by self-financing aggregators under approved off-take arrangements will be affected, and these aggregators have until August 31 to amend their agreements to comply with the new local-refining requirement. Non-compliance could lead to sanctions, including the revocation of licenses.

This policy is part of Ghana's broader strategy to develop domestic refining capacity and retain more economic value from its gold production, which reached a record 6 million ounces in 2025. Additionally, Ghana has introduced a sliding-scale royalty framework for gold miners, with rates ranging from 5% to 12%, depending on gold prices.