The Chamber of Licensed Gold Buyers (CLGB) has publicly endorsed Bawa Rock Limited’s exclusive gold aggregation mandate under the GoldBod framework, firmly rejecting concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament.
In a detailed statement, the Chamber said industry data, field monitoring and performance benchmarks clearly demonstrate that Bawa Rock Ltd has met all licensing requirements and delivered tangible improvements within Ghana’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) gold sector.
According to the CLGB, Bawa Rock Ltd has established a nationwide aggregation infrastructure linking licensed miners, buying agents, assayers and transport operators, while enforcing transparent pricing, full traceability and strict compliance standards. The Chamber noted that these measures have significantly reduced gold smuggling, informal trade and revenue leakages, while improving foreign exchange capture and export predictability.
The Chamber argued that maintaining a single exclusive aggregator is a deliberate governance mechanism rather than a commercial favour. It explained that centralised aggregation enhances market discipline, strengthens traceability, improves accountability and protects national revenue, warning that a fragmented system would reintroduce regulatory loopholes and investor uncertainty.
Drawing parallels with Ghana’s cocoa sector, the CLGB likened the GoldBod framework to the COCOBOD model, where centralised control has ensured price stability, quality assurance and international market credibility. It also cited experiences from Tanzania and Rwanda, where the absence of a dominant aggregator has contributed to persistent challenges with leakages and informal trading.
The Chamber further stressed that Bawa Rock Ltd has made substantial capital and infrastructure investments in reliance on the exclusivity of its mandate, cautioning that any attempt to weaken the arrangement could destabilise the ongoing ASM reform agenda.
Reaffirming its institutional protection for the company, the CLGB stated that Bawa Rock Ltd remains central to Ghana’s gold sector reforms under the GoldBod framework. It concluded that the exclusive mandate aligns with global best practices in commodity governance and should be maintained in the national interest until such time GoldBod determines the entry of additional licensees.
The statement was signed by the Secretariat of the Chamber of Licensed Gold Buyers (CLGB).