Ghana has reclaimed its position from South Africa as the top producer of gold in Africa, latest statistics from the Ghana Chamber of Mines confirmed.
According to the chamber, the country’s gold output increased from 2.8 million ounces in 2021 to 3.7 million ounces in 2022 due to concurrent growth in the output of both large and small-scale sectors.
The figure represents a 32% increase in production in the gold sub-sector. Ghana lost its position as Africa’s leading gold producer to South Africa as total production from large and small-scale producers declined from 4 million ounces in 2020 to 2.8 million.
Addressing the 95th annual general meeting of the Ghana Chamber of Mines in Accra on Friday (9 June), president of the chamber, Joshua Mortoti said the figure also means the large-scale gold sub-sector recorded its highest output in the country’s history in 2022.
“The production and export of Ghana’s main minerals recorded mixed performances in 2022. While the output of gold and diamond increased, the production of bulk minerals, namely, manganese, and bauxite, declined year-on-year.
“The country’s gold output thankfully, increased from 2.8 million ounces in 2021 to 3.7 million ounces in 2022 due to concurrent growth in the output of both large and small-scale sectors. This translates into a 32% increase in production in the gold sub-sector. The large-scale gold sub-sector recorded its highest output in the country’s history in 2022.
“Notably, a combination of fresh output and expansion of production at existing large-scale mines drove the large-scale sector’s contribution to national gold output from 2.7 million ounces in 2021 to 3.1 million ounces in 2022, representing an increment of 13%” Mortoti said.