Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that Ghana is losing billions of dollars in revenue due to the illegal export of gold, one of the country’s most valuable natural resources. In a post on X, he highlighted the severe impact of gold smuggling on the national economy, revealing that, during the height of the economic crisis in 2022, an estimated 60 tonnes of gold—valued at about $1.2 billion—were illegally exported out of the country.
In his post, Dr. Forson emphasized the significant financial losses Ghana has suffered, pondering the potential economic growth if that gold had remained in the nation’s economy. “Imagine the impact if that wealth had stayed in our economy!” he remarked, stressing the critical need to combat illegal mining and smuggling activities that have long robbed the nation of vital revenue.
To address the issue, Dr. Forson shared that he had met with officials from the UK-Ghana Gold Programme, a partnership aimed at breaking the connection between illegal artisanal gold mining and organized crime.
The initiative seeks to ensure that Ghana fully benefits from its gold resources while also tackling the illegal trade that has harmed the country’s finances.
