Buying and exporting Ghana gold: GoldBod rules, prices and the UAE corridor
How to buy and export gold from Ghana under the Gold Board Act, 2025: how gold is bought, priced and refined, and what that means for refiners, traders and buyers in Dubai, India, Switzerland and beyond.
Key facts
- One exporter for small-scale gold: the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is the sole buyer, seller, assayer and exporter of gold from licensed small-scale mining. Large-scale miners, however, export their own production.
- Licences: buying or dealing in gold without a GoldBod licence has been an offence since 1 May 2025. Foreign buyers can apply to GoldBod to buy or off-take gold directly.
- Official prices: since 1 July 2026, GoldBod sets two prices each trading day from the LBMA AM and PM prices, converted at the Bank of Ghana reference rate.
- Local refining: since 1 September 2026, doré bought under approved off-take arrangements must be refined at a GoldBod-approved refinery in Ghana before export.
- The UAE corridor: the UAE took 25.9% of all Ghana’s exports in 2025 (Ghana Statistical Service). By volume, more than 72% of GoldBod’s 2025 small-scale exports went to Dubai (GoldBod).
From pit to export
Click each stage to see who is involved and the rule that applies.
1. Mine
Licensed small-scale miners and large-scale mines produce the gold. Small-scale licences are held by Ghanaians only.
2. Licensed buyer
Small-scale gold is bought by GoldBod-licensed aggregators and buyers, in cedis, at GoldBod's official prices. Buying without a GoldBod licence has been an offence since 1 May 2025.
3. GoldBod
The Ghana Gold Board is the sole buyer, seller, assayer and exporter of small-scale gold. Foreign buyers apply to GoldBod to buy or off-take directly.
4. Refinery
Since 1 September 2026, doré bought under approved off-take arrangements must be refined at a GoldBod-approved refinery in Ghana before export.
5. Export
Gold leaves through the export gateway. Large-scale miners export their own production under their own licences.
6. Market
The UAE took 25.9% of Ghana's exports in 2025, India 16.0% and Switzerland 14.2% (Ghana Statistical Service).
Based on the live world gold price. Not GoldBod's official price and not an offer; doré is priced on its assayed fine gold content.
Who can export gold from Ghana
| Source of gold | Who exports it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Large-scale mines | The mining company, under its own licences | Sells to established refiners and traders; must sell 30% of annual output to the Bank of Ghana under the requirement raised in May 2026 |
| Licensed small-scale mines | GoldBod only | Bought by GoldBod and its licensed aggregators and buyers, in cedis, at GoldBod’s official prices |
| Foreign buyers | Buy or off-take from GoldBod | A private seller offering to export artisanal gold to you directly is describing a route the law no longer allows |
| Doré under off-take | After refining in Ghana | Refined at a GoldBod-approved refinery before export approval; refining costs fall on the aggregator or off-taker |
Start here: guides to buying and exporting Ghana gold
The rules and corridors you need to export gold from Ghana, in reading order.
- 01Ghana–InternationalThe Ghana–UAE Gold Corridor, Explained2 min read · Updated
- 02GoldBod & RegulationWhat the Gold Board Act, 2025 Means for Buyers, Aggregators and Exporters2 min read · Updated
- 03Investor KnowledgebaseGhana’s Gold Value Chain, Explained: From Pit to Refinery2 min read · Updated
- 04Ghana–InternationalSince 1 September, Ghana’s Small-Scale Gold Must Be Refined Locally Before Export1 min read · Updated
- 05Buying, Trading & ExportHow to Read a Gold Assay Certificate2 min read · Updated
- 06Due Diligence & RiskVerify Before You Wire: How Buyers Tell a Real Ghana Gold Deal From a Fake One3 min read · Updated
Official prices for buying Ghana gold
Our Gold Price Reports publish GoldBod’s official price every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in cedis and US dollars per pound, alongside the world price. GoldBod currently announces its prices at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Ghana time. In addition, for the year’s production, export and reserve figures, see Ghana Gold Intelligence.
On the Ghana Gold Map
GoldBod and the other regulators, Ghana's refineries and the export gateway, from our interactive map.
Latest on trade and prices
Updated automatically as we publish.
Gold Price in Ghana Weekly Open: Gold Starts the Week 1% Higher Ahead of US Inflation Data; GoldBod at GH₵11,294 (US$978.68) per Pound, Mon 9 Nov 2026
Gold Price in Ghana Weekly Close: Gold Ends the Week Up 2.7%; GoldBod at GH₵11,182 (US$967.30) per Pound, Fri 6 Nov 2026
Gold Price in Ghana Mid-Week: World Gold Jumps Back Above US$4,000; GoldBod at GH₵10,870 (US$940.31) per Pound, Wed 4 Nov 2026
Gold Price in Ghana: GoldBod Opens the Week at GH₵10,884 (US$944.79) per Pound, Mon 2 Nov 2026Questions about exporting gold from Ghana
Can a private buyer export gold from Ghana?
Not small-scale gold. Since the Gold Board Act, 2025, GoldBod is the only exporter of gold from licensed small-scale mining. Large-scale mining companies export their own production under their own licences.
How can a foreign company buy gold in Ghana legally?
Foreign buyers can apply to GoldBod to buy or off-take gold directly from it. By contrast, gold from large-scale producers is sold through contracts with established refiners and traders. Treat any other route, especially a cold approach on social media, as a warning sign.
What price does GoldBod use?
GoldBod sets two official prices each trading day, derived from the LBMA AM and PM gold prices and converted at the Bank of Ghana reference rate, quoted per pound in cedis. As a result, licensed buyers must pay in cedis and follow these prices.
Does doré have to be refined in Ghana before export?
Since 1 September 2026, doré bought by self-financing aggregators under approved off-take arrangements must be refined at a GoldBod-approved refinery in Ghana before it can be exported. See our explainer on the local refining rule.
What do UAE refiners need to check on Ghanaian gold?
The UAE’s 2022 due diligence regulations for responsible sourcing of gold, based on OECD guidance, require refiners and dealers to assess supply-chain risks, manage them, commission independent third-party reviews and report annually to the Ministry of Economy. See The Ghana–UAE Gold Corridor, Explained.
Planning to buy or export gold from Ghana?
Talk to us about market entry, GoldBod licensing and counterparty checks, or ask for introductions to licensed operators.
Prefer to message? WhatsApp our team.
We facilitate introductions and independent checks. We hold no client funds, do not buy, sell or broker physical gold, and promise no returns. See our Disclosure Policy.
This page is for information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and figures change; confirm the current position with GoldBod or a qualified adviser before acting.
