GoldBod rolls out Digital Gold Product to boost investment in Gold Sector

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is working towards introducing gold-backed tokenized investment products in a move expected to reshape participation in Ghana’s financial and mineral sectors by allowing more people to invest in the country’s gold resources.

The initiative is aimed at expanding ownership of Ghana’s mineral wealth and attracting investment from Africans within the continent and the diaspora.

Gold has emerged as a key driver of Ghana’s external sector, with official figures indicating that the country generated about US$20 billion from gold exports in 2025. The figure represents more than twice the previous year’s earnings, with the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector accounting for approximately US$10.8 billion in export revenue following reforms introduced through GoldBod.

The strong performance of the gold sector has contributed significantly to foreign exchange inflows, boosted reserve accumulation and reinforced gold’s position as Ghana’s leading export commodity.

Speaking at the EMY Africa Africa Rising Symposium in London, GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi said the planned tokenized investment assets would create opportunities for more Africans to own a stake in the continent’s mineral resources.

He described the initiative as part of efforts to ensure that more value generated from Ghana’s natural resources remains within the country while increasing public participation in the gold economy.

GoldBod, which was established to formalise Ghana’s gold trading system, reduce illegal gold smuggling and improve transparency in the marketing of artisanal gold, is now exploring ways to transform gold into a financial investment vehicle capable of attracting long-term capital.

The institution is seeking to move beyond the traditional approach of exporting gold as a raw commodity by positioning it as an asset that can support investment mobilisation and increase domestic ownership of the resource.

The artisanal and small-scale mining sector, which for years operated largely through informal channels, has become an important contributor to Ghana’s mining industry.

GoldBod has indicated that reforms implemented since its creation have increased the amount of gold processed through official export channels, reduced smuggling opportunities and improved the return of foreign exchange earnings into the local economy.

The Board also expects artisanal gold production this year to maintain or surpass the record levels achieved in the previous year, highlighting the sector’s growing role in economic growth and export performance.

The proposed tokenization project forms part of a wider conversation about how resource-rich African countries can retain greater economic benefits from their natural resources instead of relying mainly on raw mineral exports.

Addressing participants at the London symposium, Sammy Gyamfi said Africa has historically exported minerals while allowing international markets to benefit from key value-added activities such as financing, processing, pricing and innovation.

He said GoldBod’s objective is to help change that situation by creating systems that allow Africans to participate more actively in the ownership, financing and development of mineral resources.

According to him, gold should not only be viewed as a commodity for export but also as a tool for economic stability, industrial growth, job creation and national development.

Mr. Gyamfi also highlighted the potential role of the diaspora in supporting Ghana’s economic transformation, encouraging Africans abroad to move beyond sending remittances and consider long-term investments in productive sectors.

While acknowledging the importance of remittances in supporting households, he argued that sustainable economic growth depends on investments that create businesses, expand production and generate employment.

He identified areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, agribusiness, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, education and value addition as sectors that require increased investment.

In this regard, the planned gold-backed tokenized assets could serve as a link between diaspora investors and Ghana’s expanding gold industry while promoting wider ownership of mineral wealth.

Mr. Gyamfi said GoldBod’s work demonstrates how strong institutions can convert natural resources into broader economic opportunities through improved regulation, responsible sourcing and investment across the gold value chain.

However, GoldBod has not yet released details on the structure, operation or investment requirements of the proposed tokenized gold products.

Prince Antwi

See Full Bio