Typhoon Greenfield Development Ltd and MKS PAMP, in partnership with Development Gold International (DGI), have unveiled a limited edition of gold bars to commemorate Ghana’s first-ever export of fully traceable, responsibly sourced gold from small-scale mining operations.
The presentation took place during the Mining in Motion Summit at a gala dinner hosted at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra. The symbolic gold bars were presented to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom. Six of these bars were donated for auction, with proceeds earmarked for the King’s charitable initiatives focused on land restoration and clean water projects.
The event drew dignitaries from across Africa, including Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and senior mining officials from Malawi, Niger, Liberia, the DRC, Guinea-Conakry, Somalia, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the CEO of Ghana GoldBoard, Sammy Gyamfi.
This milestone marks the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Typhoon Greenfield, MKS PAMP, and DGI, backed by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). The first export, totaling 445 grams of gold, was mined from Typhoon Greenfield’s Adomanu site and refined at MKS PAMP’s facilities in Switzerland.
The initiative is part of DGI’s efforts to bring Ghana’s small-scale mining sector in line with international best practices. Participating mines are evaluated using the Development Gold Ghana Performance Standard and the LBMA Responsible Sourcing Programme.
Industry Leaders Speak on the Breakthrough
Max Afriyie-Barwuah, President of DGI, emphasized the significance of this achievement:
“It’s a turning point for Ghana’s gold sector and a testament to the willingness of small-scale miners to meet global standards. Our aim is to reduce environmental damage and enable access to responsible gold markets at scale.”
Kwaku Afrifa Nsiah-Asare, CEO of Typhoon Greenfield, noted the broader impact:
“We’re proud to lead this Ghanaian-grown initiative. Meeting the Development Gold Ghana Performance Standard has opened doors to respected international partners like MKS PAMP. We hope more small-scale mines will follow.”
Omar Liess, Chief Commercial Officer of MKS PAMP, reinforced the company’s commitment:
“This is a major step forward for responsible sourcing. We’re honored to support Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector and hope to expand such partnerships globally.”
Ruth Crowell, LBMA Chief Executive, expressed strong support:
“This is exactly the type of initiative the LBMA backs. Ghana is now leading the way for small-scale producers working with LBMA Good Delivery List (GDL) refineries.”
Redefining Responsible Small-Scale Mining
DGI’s MineTrace platform ensures full traceability of the gold supply chain, while the Ghana Performance Standard—developed with sustainability consultancy TDi Sustainability—helps formalize small-scale mining through training, auditing, and ESG compliance.
Assheton Carter, Executive Chair of TDi Sustainability, remarked:
“This framework provides a uniquely Ghanaian solution to ASM challenges and sets a credible pathway for small-scale miners to demonstrate good practices and access formal markets.”
The LBMA’s ASM initiative, launched in 2022, is designed to support more responsibly sourced gold from artisanal and small-scale miners into the formal supply chain. Ghana is one of four countries prioritized for this effort.
Since 2023, the LBMA has worked with Ghanaian authorities, traders, and the Bank of Ghana to promote responsible ASM practices, publishing an ASM Toolkit to guide refiners in fostering sustainable progress rather than short-term compliance.
