The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has called on both the Majority and Minority in Parliament to safeguard recent gains made in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold sector, warning against actions that could undermine the industry for short-term political reasons.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, GNASSM cautioned lawmakers not to be “influenced or derailed” by international agencies or partisan considerations, stressing that Ghana’s natural resources must be leveraged collectively to strengthen the national economy.
The Association’s statement follows a press conference by the Minority in Parliament titled “The Golden Betrayal: A National Demand for Answers, Transparency and Accountability.”
GNASSM said it had closely monitored the Minority’s concerns but argued that assessments of the ASM gold trade should not be limited to annual profit-and-loss figures.
According to GNASSM, data from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) show that 63.6 metric tons of ASM gold were exported in 2024 under the previous administration’s Gold-for-Oil and Gold-for-Reserves programmes, a year in which the Bank of Ghana recorded losses.
Under the current administration’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, the Association said 101 metric tons of ASM gold had been exported as of Dec. 23, 2025, with the central bank also recording losses.
“These figures show clearly that ASM gold trading cannot be assessed solely on a narrow accounting basis of profit and loss in a single year,” the statement said, adding that broader macroeconomic, social and governance benefits must be considered.
GNASSM commended President John Dramani Mahama’s administration for establishing the Ghana Gold Board (Goldbod), describing it as a critical intervention that has brought greater order and transparency to the sector.
The Association said the Goldbod’s operations have led to the exclusion of foreigners from direct trading in ASM-supplied gold, improved collaboration with small-scale miners, and the introduction of fair and transparent pricing mechanisms.
Other benefits cited include enhanced government capacity to purchase gold locally, reduced vulnerability of miners to smugglers, improved traceability, and increased support for sustainable mining and environmental stewardship.
The Association noted that the ASM gold market is now largely controlled by Ghanaians, a development it said would help build domestic capital and support the growth of small-scale mines into larger operations over time.
GNASSM therefore urged politicians across the political divide to support, rather than disrupt, the current regulatory framework governing the gold sector. It reminded Parliament of the non-partisan consensus that led to the passage of the Ghana Gold Board Act and called for a united front to strengthen the Goldbod and related institutions.
“The small-scale miners are not happy at all about what is happening and its adverse effect on the market,” the statement said, warning that political tensions risk distracting industry players from their work.
The statement was signed by GNASSM General Secretary Godwin N. Amarh and dated Jan. 1, 2026. For further information, the Association listed Rasak Alhassan, Communications Director, as its contact person.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
