60 tonnes of gold worth $1.2b smuggled out of Ghana in 2022 - Ato Forson

Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has raised concerns over the country's significant revenue losses due to illegal gold transfers.

In a post on X, Dr. Forson revealed that during Ghana’s economic crisis in 2022, an estimated 60 tonnes of gold—valued at around $1.2 billion—were smuggled out of the country through illicit means. He lamented the financial impact, stressing that the economy would have benefited greatly if the gold had remained within Ghana's trade systems.

"Imagine the impact if that wealth had stayed in our economy!" he stated, emphasizing the need to clamp down on illegal gold mining and smuggling, which have long deprived the country of crucial revenue.

To address this, Dr. Forson disclosed that he had engaged with officials from the UK-Ghana Gold Programme, a partnership aimed at breaking the link between illegal mining and organized crime.

The initiative seeks to ensure Ghana maximizes its benefits from its gold resources while curbing unlawful trade practices.