The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced new rules for determining the purity of gold bought locally, with the changes taking effect from October 1, 2026.
Under the new regime, the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) assay method will become the definitive basis for determining gold purity, pricing and payment for all gold doré purchased by GoldBod and its licensed buyers.
This is contaianed in a press release dated September 28.
GoldBod said “the Water Density method will only be used as an indicative assessment of gold purity and will no longer serve as the final basis for determining payment.”
However, where a licensed buyer is genuinely unable to use XRF because of operational or logistical constraints, or where both the buyer and seller voluntarily agree to use the Water Density method, the gold doré will be purchased at a 0.7 percent purity discount based on the Water Density assessment.
The new notice also introduces a tolerance level for differences between successive XRF assay results for the same gold or transaction.
According to GoldBod, “the permissible purity difference between two XRF reports must remain within plus or minus 0.1 percent.”
Any difference beyond that range will require further verification before the transaction can be completed or reported to GoldBod.
GoldBod has directed all aggregators and licensed gold buyers to ensure they are fully prepared to comply with the new requirements by October 1.
The Compliance Directorate warned that failure to comply will constitute a breach of the terms and conditions of the relevant licences and could result in regulatory or enforcement action under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
The notice forms part of the conditions governing licences issued by GoldBod to aggregators and licensed gold buyers.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
