Rwanda Mining Officials Visit Ghana Gold Board to Study Sector Reforms and Boost Cooperation
ACCRA, Ghana — A high-level delegation from Rwanda’s Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, led by Chief Executive Officer Alice Uwase, visited the Ghana Gold Board this week to examine Ghana’s recent reforms in the gold sector and explore avenues for deeper bilateral collaboration.
Accompanied by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Ghana, the Rwandan officials met Ghana Gold Board Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi and senior management. Discussions centered on knowledge exchange in areas including licensing systems, efforts to curb smuggling, mineral value addition, environmental protection, formalization of small-scale mining, access to financing, and responsible gold processing practices.
The Rwandan side praised Ghana Gold Board’s progress in reforming gold trading and promoting sustainable practices.
Gyamfi highlighted the institution’s economic impact, noting that Ghana recorded US$10.8 billion in gold export earnings in 2025 and had already reached US$11.6 billion by October 2026. He stressed the value of African countries sharing experiences to extract greater benefits from their natural resources.
Ghana Gold Board’s Director for Responsible Mining, Professor Ishmael Quaicoo, briefed the visitors on initiatives supporting formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining operations, improved financing options, and environmentally sound processing methods.
The visit formed part of Uwase’s broader trip to Ghana for the Mining in Motion Conference, held from October 19 to 21 in Accra.
Opened by President John Dramani Mahama and hosted by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, through the Ashanti Green Initiative, the gathering brought together African mining leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss critical minerals development, value retention, and financing the shift from exploration to refining.
During ministerial roundtables at the conference, Uwase called for stronger collaboration among African nations, the exchange of best practices, and sustainable approaches that allow the continent to retain a larger share of the value generated from its mineral resources.
She outlined Rwanda’s focus on raising mineral grades, mechanizing operations, formalizing the sector, attracting value-addition investors, and building skills through academic partnerships.
Uwase has led the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board since her appointment in July 2025. She previously served as deputy CEO and headed the exploration department, bringing experience from gold mining and trading projects.
Ghana Gold Board, established in 2025 under dedicated legislation, holds exclusive authority over the buying, selling, assaying, and export of gold and other precious minerals in Ghana. It has prioritized local refining—now covering the majority of the gold it handles—job creation, and foreign exchange generation as part of efforts to maximize domestic economic returns.
The engagement builds on earlier Rwanda-Ghana mining cooperation, including a 2025 partnership focused on minerals trade, artificial intelligence applications, and investment opportunities involving key minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten.
Officials from both sides described the discussions as an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences in resource management and to strengthen practical ties that could support more effective and sustainable mining development across the continent.
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