Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is the Minister of Finance
Ghana is set to establish its first-ever fire assay laboratory by the end of 2026, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced.
According to Dr Forson, the move will allow the government to independently verify the value of gold produced by large-scale mining companies and transform the country’s gold industry.
Speaking to the media after touring the Gold Coast Refinery on February 4, 2026, Dr Forson commended the Ghana Gold Board for its efforts in strengthening the mining sector, ensuring accountability, and maximising benefits from the country’s mineral wealth.
“Today, I can confidently say that plans are far advanced, and by the end of the year, Ghana will have its first-ever fire assay lab. This will allow us to determine the true value of our royalties so that we can use these funds to develop our country. I think the Gold Board is doing excellent work. They need to be supported,” he said.
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The Finance Minister further stated; “Our next policy line will be to encourage the Ghana Gold Board to, by the end of the year, have a fire assay lab so that all large-scale mining companies will take their gold through a fire assay at the Gold Board lab, allowing us to ascertain the true value of our royalties.”
He noted that since independence, Ghana has relied heavily on figures provided by mining companies, leaving the country “at the mercy” of external valuations.
The new lab, he said, will mark a historic shift by giving the government the tools to independently determine the worth of its gold resources.
The fire assay laboratory is expected to boost confidence in Ghana’s gold sector, improve revenue collection, and ensure that royalties are used more effectively to support national development.
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
