Sierra Leone is looking to Ghana for inspiration in overhauling its mining sector, with Finance Minister Sheku Fantamadi Bangura holding talks in Accra with the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD), Sammy Gyamfi.
The September 18 meeting centred on how Ghana’s recently established gold management framework could help Sierra Leone curb smuggling, improve transparency, and boost mineral revenues.
Mr. Bangura hailed Ghana’s strategy as “an innovative step to formalise and strengthen its gold sector,” stressing that similar reforms could “play a key role in boosting Sierra Leone’s economy.”
He expressed particular interest in licensing, assaying, and traceability systems that ensure minerals are properly accounted for and exports yield fair value for the state.
In response, Mr. Gyamfi affirmed GOLDBOD’s readiness to share expertise. He noted that “formalising the gold trade through licensing, assaying and responsible sourcing not only bolsters government oversight but also builds investor confidence.”
Created earlier this year under the GOLDBOD Act, the Board has the authority to buy, assay and export gold from licensed artisanal and small-scale miners.
Its mandate is to reduce illegal flows, raise foreign exchange earnings, and enhance traceability in Ghana’s gold trade.
For Sierra Leone, where smuggling and weak regulation have long drained state revenue, the Ghanaian model presents promise but also challenges.
