The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced sweeping changes to its assay regime for local gold purchases, effective October 1, 2026, alongside a stern reminder to aggregators and licensed buyers to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements.
In a compliance notice signed by Chief Executive Officer Samuel Gyamfi, Esq., the Board stated that the Water Density method will henceforth serve only as an indicative assessment of gold purity. The definitive basis for determining purity, pricing, and payment will be X‑Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Assay.
Where XRF is unavailable, or parties voluntarily elect to use water density, transactions will attract a 0.7% purity discount. Licensed buyers are also required to apply a strict tolerance limit, with permissible purity differentials between successive XRF reports capped at ±0.1%. Any deviation beyond this threshold must undergo further verification before a transaction is concluded.
Separately, GoldBod’s Compliance Directorate issued a reminder that adherence to these new procedures forms part of the terms and conditions of all licenses. Failure to comply will constitute a breach and may trigger regulatory and enforcement measures under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
The Board has directed all licensed buyers and aggregators to ensure full operational readiness by October 1, stressing its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the integrity of Ghana’s gold trade.
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