Gold mining in Ghana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gold mining in Ghana has a long history, dating back to the 10th century when the region was part of the ancient Ghana Empire. Commercial gold mining began in the early 19th century, with Europeans establishing several mines during the colonial period.[1][2][3] The first documented large-scale mining operation in Ghana was at Obuasi, where gold was discovered in 1897. By 1900, Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast, had become a major supplier of gold in the British Empire.[4][5][6]
Ghana is renowned for its gold resources and is the largest producer of gold in Africa as of 2019.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Major gold discoveries and mining activities have centered around the Ashanti Region and other areas such as Tarkwa, Akyem, and Prestea, forming part of the extensive Birimian and Tarkwaian gold belts.[13][14]
The Ancient Ghana Empire
A common misconception in researching gold mining in Ghana is confusing the modern state of Ghana with the ancient Ghana Empire, which are different geographical areas. The Ghana Empire was located in what is currently Mali and Mauritania [15] and was landlocked, whereas the modern state of Ghana is located on the "Gold Coast" of Africa.
The Ghana Empire was the first major empire of West Africa, existing between the seventh and thirteenth centuries[16]. The majority of those living in the empire at the time were known as the Soninke, cultural representations of these people today are described to be dressed in colorful robes as well as donning various gold jewelry[16].
Early gold mining
Ashanti Region has played a central role in gold mining in Ghana, dating back to the 19th century. Local artisanal mining, known as galamsey, predated industrial efforts. The Ashanti Goldfields Corporation was established in 1897, marking the start of large-scale industrial gold mining in Ghana.[17][18][19]
Modern gold production
Large-scale gold mining in Ghana took off in the mid-20th century, with operations expanding in the 1980s due to rising gold prices.[20][21] Companies such as AngloGold Ashanti and Newmont have operated extensive mines, contributing to Ghana's economy.[22][23][24]
In 2019, Ghana overtook South Africa as the leading gold producer in Africa, producing 142.4 tonnes of gold, representing 4.1% of global production. The sector accounts for over 90% of the country's mineral exports and remains an important part of Ghana's economy.[25][26][27][28][7] In 2020, government licensed artisan and small-scale operations accounted for about 35% of total gold production, and in 2023 gold became nearly half of all exports from Ghana, which supported the livelihood of more than 10% of Ghana's total population, about 5 million people.[29] However, illegal small scale gold mining, known as Galamsey, has undermined the economic strives Ghana has made in recent years, and an estimated $2.3 billion will be lost each year to smuggled gold and lost revenue. [29]
