Ghana produced a record of about 4.8 million ounces of gold in 2024, roughly 19 percent more than in 2023, according to the Ghana Chamber of Mines. That makes Ghana the largest gold producer in Africa and one of the ten largest in the world. This guide breaks the figure down: how much comes from big mines versus small-scale miners, what the gold is worth in export earnings, how output has grown, and which mines produce the most.
Quick answer
- Total gold output (2024): about 4.8 million ounces, a record, up about 19 percent on 2023.
- From large-scale mines: about 2.9 million ounces (roughly six in ten).
- From small-scale and artisanal miners: about 1.9 million ounces, up about 70 percent in a year.
- Export value: about US$11.6 billion in gold exports in 2024.
- Rank: number one in Africa, and around sixth largest globally.
- 2025 projection: between 4.4 million and 5.1 million ounces.
Market Pulse: Ghana gold production by the numbers
As of the latest full-year data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines (2024, reported in 2025):
| Measure | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total gold output | About 4.0 million ounces | About 4.8 million ounces |
| Large-scale mines | About 2.7 million ounces | About 2.9 million ounces |
| Small-scale and artisanal | About 1.1 million ounces | About 1.9 million ounces |
| Gold export earnings | About US$7.6 billion | About US$11.6 billion |
Source: Ghana Chamber of Mines 2024 industry statistics. The 2025 outlook from the Chamber points to between 4.4 million and 5.1 million ounces. Gold made up the large majority of Ghana’s mineral export earnings and well over half of total merchandise exports in 2024.
How Ghana’s gold output has grown
Ghana has been a major gold producer for over a century, but output has climbed sharply in recent years. In 2019 Ghana produced about 142 tonnes of gold and overtook South Africa to become Africa’s largest producer, a position it has held since. National output then pushed past 4 million ounces in 2023 and reached a record of about 4.8 million ounces in 2024.
Two forces drove the 2024 record: historically high global gold prices, which pulled more small-scale production into the market, and steady output from the large mines. As of 2024, large-scale production was broadly flat while small-scale output surged.
Large-scale versus small-scale mining
Ghana’s gold comes from two very different sources. Large-scale mines, run by companies such as Newmont, Gold Fields and AngloGold Ashanti, produced about 2.9 million ounces in 2024. Small-scale and artisanal miners, many of them informal, produced about 1.9 million ounces, a jump of roughly 70 percent in a single year.
That small-scale surge is the headline story of 2024. It reflects high prices, but also long-standing concerns about unlicensed mining, known locally as galamsey, and its effect on rivers and farmland. In 2025 the government set up the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to centralise the buying and export of small-scale gold, aiming to capture more revenue and curb smuggling, and ordered foreign buyers out of the local gold-trading market.
Where Ghana’s gold comes from
As of 2024, the biggest single producers were Newmont’s Ahafo mine and Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine, followed by AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem and Obuasi mines and the Akyem mine, now owned by Zijin Mining. For the full ranking with owners and regions, see our guide to the top gold mines in Ghana, or browse every mine in the Ghana mining directory.
| Mine | 2024 output (oz) | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Ahafo | 798,000 | Newmont |
| Tarkwa | 537,200 | Gold Fields |
| Iduapriem | 237,000 | AngloGold Ashanti |
| Obuasi | 221,000 | AngloGold Ashanti |
| Akyem | 204,000 | Zijin Mining |
What is Ghana’s gold worth?
Gold is Ghana’s biggest export and a major source of foreign exchange. As of 2024, gold exports were worth about US$11.6 billion and accounted for well over half of all merchandise export earnings. Mining as a whole contributes roughly 7 percent of Ghana’s gross domestic product and is one of the largest sources of government revenue through royalties, taxes and dividends.
Frequently asked questions
How much gold does Ghana produce per year?
Ghana produced a record of about 4.8 million ounces of gold in 2024, up roughly 19 percent on 2023, according to the Ghana Chamber of Mines. The 2025 outlook is between 4.4 million and 5.1 million ounces.
Is Ghana the largest gold producer in Africa?
Yes. Ghana overtook South Africa in 2019 to become Africa’s largest gold producer and has held the position since. Globally it ranks around sixth.
How much of Ghana’s gold comes from small-scale mining?
In 2024, small-scale and artisanal miners produced about 1.9 million ounces, close to 40 percent of the national total of about 4.8 million ounces, after a roughly 70 percent jump in a year.
How much is Ghana’s gold worth?
Gold exports were worth about US$11.6 billion in 2024, making gold Ghana’s single biggest export and well over half of total merchandise export earnings.
Which mine produces the most gold in Ghana?
Newmont’s Ahafo mine was the largest single producer in 2024, at about 798,000 ounces, followed by Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine at 537,200 ounces.
What is GoldBod?
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is a state body set up in 2025 to centralise the buying, assaying and export of gold, especially from small-scale miners, to raise government earnings and reduce smuggling.
Related guides on websitesgh.com
Data note: national production, export and breakdown figures are from the Ghana Chamber of Mines 2024 industry statistics, with mine-level output from each operator’s results (Newmont, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti). Figures are rounded and revised year to year. Last updated June 2026.