Establishment of gold refinery in Ghana good but should be private sector-led – Jackson

A financial analysts, Mr Joe Jackson has welcomed the move by the Indian Government to help the Government of Ghana establish a gold refinery in Ghana.

In his view, this move will contribute to job creation.

The aim of the refinery is to refine gold in the country and also to create jobs for the youth.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. George Mireku Duker, said these in an interview with 3FM’s Sunrise on Thursday hosted by Alfred Ocansey.

“We are engaging to find how the gold would be maintained here to create jobs for the youth”, he said.

He added “by the end of November, we may commission the gold refinery. We were to commission it by the middle of November but from what they are telling me, they are almost 95% done. There are few touches that they are doing and also depending on the president’s schedules, we are hoping to commission it by the end of November 2021.”

Mr. Duker further indicated that “the percentage of ownership has time lines. The Indian government built everything and we provided them with 20%. The 20% is our land but they built everything and that is our commitment”.

“The India government owns 80%. If we retain 20% of the refined gold…if Bank of Ghana is buying the gold, it’s the cost of the refining of the gold that is what we will get 20%. It is the cost of the refining that we have 20% and not the entire gold”.

Cost of project

He said the project cost $25million which is being solely financed by the India government.

“The cost of putting it up is $25m and it meets international standards. It is located at the heart of Accra, adjacent to the PMC office”.

Mr. Duker said “there is an arrangement for the project. In five years’ time, there is an arrangement for renegotiation to get to 50%-50%. We have space to renegotiate and in another 6-year, we will have the opportunity to renegotiate to buy the entire shares”.

Reacting to this in a tweet, Mr Kackson said “Govt of India and Ghana build a gold refinery. Great! Jobs will be created, value-added to our gold, and more. I only wish it was private sector-led. One day in the future we will hear stories of corruption, inefficiency, etc.”