Small-scale mining overtakes large producers as Ghana’s gold output surges 23% in 2025

Ghana’s gold production rose sharply by 23.41 percent in 2025, reaching 5.94 million ounces compared to 4.82 million ounces the previous year, according to the annual report released by the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

Presenting the report on Friday in Accra, the Chamber’s outgoing President, Michael Edem Akafia, attributed the strong performance to a remarkable increase in output from the small-scale gold sector.

Small-scale gold production skyrocketed by 63.82 percent, climbing from 1.9 million ounces in 2024 to 3.11 million ounces in 2025. For the first time in over a century, this surge enabled small-scale miners to account for the majority of the nation’s output—52.4 percent—surpassing their large-scale counterparts.

“Small-scale mining has accumulated 52.4 percent of national output, overtaking large-scale producers for the first time in more than a century,” Mr. Akafia stated.

Looking ahead, the Chamber projects that gold production will continue its upward trajectory, with output expected to reach at least six million ounces in 2026, driven by increased investment in the sector.

Ghana remains one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with the precious metal continuing to serve as a critical pillar of the national economy.