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Gold refining in Ghana more expensive than abroad – Kenneth Ashigbey
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Kenneth Ashigbey, has disclosed that it currently costs more to refine gold in Ghana than abroad.
He explained that the high cost of refining locally is driven by several factors, including the cost of power, taxes on chemicals imported into the country and the expense involved in treating industrial waste.
According to him on Joy news on Wednesday August 27, 2026 these challenges make it difficult for Ghanaian refineries to compete with refineries in other countries.
Mr Ashigbey noted that the issue of economies of scale also affects the cost of refining, stressing that countries with larger refining operations can spread their costs over higher volumes of gold.
He, however, indicated that discussions are already underway between the GoldBod and the Ministry of Finance on measures to make Ghana’s refineries more competitive.
He believes Ghana should position itself as a regional hub for gold refining rather than focus only on gold produced within the country.
“The whole issue of beneficiation and value addition, we cannot look at it as a country-specific thing. It has to be a regional thing,” he noted.
Mr Ashigbey explained that Ghana could attract gold from other countries within the sub-region if its refineries become more efficient and cost-effective.
He therefore called for improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of local refineries, as well as government incentives to reduce the cost of refining and encourage more companies to refine their gold in Ghana.
He stressed that making local refining competitive would be important to Ghana’s efforts to retain more value from its gold resources.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Deputy National Women Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mimi Duah, has openly declared her support for Mavis Hawa Koomson as the next National Women’s Organiser of the party.
In a statement endorsing Hawa Koomson’s candidature, Ms Duah outlined four key reasons why she believes the former MP and Minister of State is best placed to lead the party’s women’s wing.
According to her, Hawa Koomson is a motherly figure who rose from the grassroots and is widely noted for her forgiving nature and ability to foster unity.
“She is a true grassroots mother who easily forgives, fosters unity, provides guidance and arbitrates to ensure all aggrieved party women are brought on board to ensure a unified women’s wing,” she stated.
Ms Duah also pointed to Hawa Koomson’s vast experience, having served as a Constituency Women’s Organiser, Member of Parliament and Minister of State, noting that the experience positions her to provide effective leadership as National Women’s Organiser.
She further described Hawa Koomson as capable of making the women’s wing resourceful, through her extensive network and business contacts, to lobby for logistics, training and financial support for women organisers at all levels.
Lastly, she said the NPP as an opposition party needs fearless, bold and assertive leadership at the women’s front to inspire regional, constituency and polling station women organisers as the party reorganises towards the 2028 elections.
“We need a Women’s Organiser who has been tested, who is bold, who understands grassroots women, and who can lead us to victory in 2028. Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson is that leader,” she stressed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister inaugurates Ghana-Korea Heritage Project Steering Committee
Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has inaugurated the Ghana-Korea Heritage Project Steering Committee to provide strategic oversight for a five-year programme focused on preserving Ghana’s heritage sites and strengthening their resilience to climate change.
The project will support climate-risk mapping, digital surveying and 3D modelling, joint research, capacity building, community engagement and modern monitoring technologies.
Korea is also providing specialised equipment, including drones, 3D scanners, digital microscopes, thermal imaging cameras and GPS survey instruments, to enhance Ghana’s capacity to scientifically assess, document and conserve heritage structures.
The partnership, which will run through 2030 and beyond, is expected to deepen Ghana-Korea cultural ties while promoting sustainable, technology-driven and climate-adaptive heritage management for future generations.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
