World Gold Council considers Ghana for pilot project on responsible ASGM practices

Ghana is being considered by the World Gold Council (WGC) for a multi-country pilot project aimed at demonstrating how technology can be deployed to sanitise the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector.

The proposed pilot, which may also include Peru, is part of the WGC’s exploratory mission to identify practical, scalable solutions to long-standing governance and environmental challenges in the global ASGM industry.

Natural resource governance expert Dr. Steve Manteaw disclosed  this after holding a meeting with WGC executives in Accra.

The discussions focused on technology-driven interventions, particularly the deployment of traceability systems and centralized processing facilities to improve gold recovery, reduce mercury use, and enhance environmental, health and safety standards.

According to Dr. Manteaw, the engagement took place between the World Gold Council and the UK–Ghana Gold Programme, which has supported Ghana’s mining sector institutions over the past three years and provided technical insights into ongoing ASGM reforms.

He noted that Ghana’s steady progress in formalising the ASGM sector has positioned the country as a strong candidate for the pilot, which is expected to showcase responsible mining practices and supply-chain transparency for international markets.

The consideration of Ghana for the pilot underscores growing international confidence in the country’s approach to ASGM governance and its potential role in shaping global best practices for responsible gold production.