Ghana has maintained its position as Africa’s leading gold producer, according to the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Michael Edem Akafia.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, Akafia said Ghana continues to dominate gold production on the continent while maintaining a strong presence in the global market.

“In terms of performance, if you look at it on the global level, Ghana is still maintaining its place as the biggest gold producer in Africa and sits globally and all of that. So those are the positives you have going for it,” he noted.

However, he cautioned that the impressive figures mask underlying challenges facing the sector.

“If you unpack it and look behind those headlines, you find that there may be challenges and issues of concern for the industry. We believe that Ghana should continue to position itself as a beacon for the mining industry generally, because we are known to be a relatively more mature mining industry,” he explained.

Providing production data, Akafia revealed that Ghana recorded approximately 4.8 million ounces of gold in 2024, representing a notable increase from the previous year.

The surge, he said, was largely driven by the small-scale mining sector, which expanded output from 1.1 million ounces in 2023 to 1.9 million ounces in 2024. In contrast, large-scale mining output remained steady at around 2.9 million ounces.

Akafia also pointed to concerns within the industry regarding government’s proposed overhaul of mining laws, noting that while reforms are intended to strengthen the sector, stakeholders are closely watching how they will affect operations.

Despite these challenges, he emphasized that Ghana remains well-positioned as a key player in global mining and a hub for investment in Africa.