The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has praised the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, for his strong leadership in ensuring Ghana secures greater value from its gold and mineral wealth.
Speaking at the official opening of the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra on Monday, June 2, Otumfuo commended Gyamfi for pushing policies that promote value addition, institutional strengthening, and fair returns in the gold industry.
“Sammy, I thank you very much on this one,” Otumfuo said, highlighting Gyamfi’s contribution to improving the gold sector.
The Asantehene, however, stressed that the real issue goes beyond illegal mining. He said Ghana’s biggest setback lies in its failure to properly manage and benefit from its natural resources on the global stage.
“Probably the costliest effect of illicit mining, to me, is the distraction from the real challenge we face—which is how we maximize the benefits of our noble heritage. We have to be true to ourselves and admit that we have not done a good job of representing and protecting ourselves in the global marketplace,” he stated.
Otumfuo added that the mining sector, and gold in particular, presents a unique opportunity for Ghana to reshape its economic future.
“Through the mining industry—and gold in particular—we have the opportunity to rewrite our story, but only if we take ourselves seriously,” he concluded.
The summit brought together industry players, policymakers, and traditional leaders to discuss sustainable reforms in Ghana’s mining industry.
