Adansi Media Coalition Demands Gold Refinery Be Built in Obuasi, Not Accra
The Media Coalition for Development-Adansi has called on the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to reconsider plans to site a proposed gold refinery in Accra.
In a statement issued in Accra and Obuasi, the group argued that Obuasi, which sits at the heart of Ghana’s gold belt, offers the most strategic and cost-effective location for the refinery. They stressed that the Ashanti Region is home to major mining firms including AngloGold Ashanti, Asanko Gold Mine, and Perseus Mining, and is also close to gold-rich areas such as Tarkwa, Prestea, and Bogoso.
“Locating the refinery in Obuasi will cut transportation costs, create direct jobs for local residents, and stimulate economic growth in our communities,” said Robert Anokye Gyamfi, Chairman of the Coalition. “Placing it in Accra will deprive us of these benefits and increase operational costs unnecessarily.”
The Coalition further noted that keeping the refinery close to the source of production would ensure that communities long impacted by mining activities also share in the value addition of gold.
They have therefore urged traditional leaders, local government officials, and civil society groups to rally behind the call for the refinery to be built in Obuasi, warning that the current plan risks becoming a missed opportunity for inclusive development.
The group said it looks forward to engaging the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board directly to press home their concerns.
