Ghana maintains lead as Africa's top gold producer
Ghana has once again maintained its place as Africa’s leading gold producer, according to the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The country produced about 4.8 million ounces of gold in 2024, maintaining its dominance on the continent while reinforcing its role as a key global player in the mining industry.
In an interview with local news channel Joy News, the Chamber President, Michael Edem Akafia, said Ghana’s continued leadership in gold output underscores its maturity as a mining hub.
“In terms of performance, if you look at it on the global level, Ghana is still maintaining its place as the biggest gold producer in Africa and sits globally as well. So those are the positives you have going for it,” Akafia said.
Small-scale mining has driven much of the growth, with production soaring from 1.1 million ounces in 2023 to 1.9 million ounces in 2024. In contrast, large-scale production has stagnated at around 2.9 million ounces.
“If you unpack it and look behind those headlines, you find that there may be challenges and issues of concern for the industry,” Akafia noted, adding that Ghana must continue positioning itself as a “beacon for the mining industry” across Africa.
Akafia also pointed to uncertainty over the government’s planned overhaul of mining laws. While reforms are aimed at improving transparency and governance, industry stakeholders remain cautious about how the changes could affect investment and operations.
According to data from the World Gold Council, Ghana has been Africa’s leading gold producer from 2010 to date, with 135.1 tonnes, followed by Mali with 105 tonnes and South Africa with 104.3 tonnes. Burkina Faso ranks fourth with 98.6 tonnes, while Sudan rounds out the top five at 72.5 tonnes.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
