Nana Akwasi Awuah: Africa’s gold refining drive signals shift towards domestic value addition

He cited the Royal Ghana Gold Refinery as an example, describing it as the first refinery in Ghana with state participation in its ownership, and said the development of local refining capacity represented an important step in changing the continent’s traditional approach to mineral exports.

Mr Awuah said the developments represented an opportunity for African gold-producing countries to rethink how their natural resources are managed, arguing that domestic refining could help countries retain a greater share of the value generated from their gold resources.

Former CEO of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), now GoldBod, Nana Akwasi Awuah, has welcomed the growing number of gold refineries being established in African gold-producing countries, describing the trend as a significant move towards retaining more value from the continent’s mineral resources.