Ghana Shakes Up the Gold Scene: Foreign Traders Given April 30 Deadline to Exit Local Market Ghana is making bold moves to take back control of its gold industry. In a major policy shift, the government has ordered all foreign players to exit the local gold trading market by April 30. The aim? To boost national earnings, tighten oversight on artisanal gold sales, and put a serious dent in smuggling. The newly launched GoldBod (Gold Board) is now the only authority with the power to buy, sell, assess, and export gold from small-scale miners. According to a government announcement on Monday, any licenses held by local or international buyers are officially null and void. That doesn’t mean foreigners are completely locked out — they can still apply to buy or collect gold directly through GoldBod. But the days of open market hustle are over. This change is part of a wider economic plan. Back in January, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said the move would help Ghana capture more value from its gold sector and help stabilize the national currency. And there's a lot on the line. In 2024 alone, Ghana’s gold exports jumped by 53.2%, hitting $11.64 billion — nearly $5 billion of that came from the small-scale mining sector. Meanwhile, global gold prices are booming, with rates soaring past $3,200 an ounce for the first time ever. Much of this is driven by nervous markets reacting to tensions like the ongoing US-China trade war — investors are flocking to gold as a safe bet in uncertain times. Top 10 Gold Producers in Africa (2025 Edition): 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇲🇱 Mali 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 🇸🇩 Sudan 🇬🇳 Guinea 🇹🇿 Tanzania 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe 🇨🇩 DR Congo These countries continue to drive the continent’s dominance in the global gold market. Ghana, a proud AfCFTA member and host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, is proving that #AfricaMeansBusiness — and it’s doing so on its own terms. #GoldMoves #GhanaFirst #GoldBod #SmallScaleMining #MadeInAfrica #InvestInAfrica #AfricaRising #AfCFTA #TradeInAfrica #PanAfricanProgress #GoldRushAfrica #OneAfricanMarket #TheAfricaWeWant #MiningReform #BuyAfrica #AfricanSolutions #Agenda2063 #AfCFTANews #GoldUpdate #GlobalAfrica #DigitalAfrica