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

Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, stated that Ghana is losing billions in revenue. This loss is due to the illegal transfer of gold, a key natural resource.

In a post on X, he discussed the severe impact of gold smuggling. During Ghana's economic crisis in 2022, about 60 tonnes of gold were smuggled out. This gold was worth around $1.2 billion.

Dr. Forson emphasized the significant economic loss for Ghana. He questioned how much better the economy could be if that gold stayed here.

"Imagine the impact if that wealth had stayed in our economy!" he said. He highlighted the urgent need to stop illegal mining and smuggling.

Gold is one of Ghana’s most valuable resources. However, illicit smuggling has cost the country billions in revenue.

To address this issue, Dr. Forson met with officials from the UK-Ghana Gold Programme. This collaboration aims to break links between illegal artisanal mining and organized crime.

The program seeks to ensure Ghana fully benefits from its gold resources while fighting illegal trade that harms its finances.