Ghana is losing billions in revenue due to the illegal transfer of gold, one of its most valuable natural resources, according to Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
In a post on X, Dr. Forson exposed the severe economic toll of illicit gold smuggling, revealing that during the peak of Ghana’s financial crisis in 2022, approximately 60 tonnes of gold—valued at around $1.2 billion—were siphoned out of the country through unlawful means.
He lamented the lost opportunity, stressing how the nation’s economy could have significantly benefited if that gold had remained within Ghana. “Imagine the impact if that wealth had stayed in our economy!” he stated, reinforcing the urgency of tackling illegal mining and smuggling.
In response to this crisis, Dr. Forson disclosed that he had engaged with officials from the UK-Ghana Gold Programme. This initiative is designed to break the connection between illegal artisanal gold mining and organized crime, ensuring that Ghana reaps the full economic benefits of its gold resources while curbing the illicit trade that has long drained the country’s finances.
