The Ghana Gold Board, GoldBod, has suspended new applications for selected gold buying licences with immediate effect as it prepares to roll out regulatory reforms aimed at tightening oversight in the sector.
In a statement dated February 16, 2026, the Board announced that new applications for Tier 1 and Tier 2 gold buying licences, as well as the Self Financing Aggregator Licence, have been put on hold. During this period, only the Aggregator Licence will remain open for new applications.
The decision forms part of what GoldBod describes as a broader effort to strengthen and modernise Ghana’s gold buying regime.
The Board said the reforms are intended to improve transparency, boost compliance, enhance traceability, and ensure that more value from gold trading is retained within the country.
For businesses and individuals seeking to enter the gold buying space, the announcement means a temporary pause on specific licensing pathways.
However, GoldBod sought to reassure stakeholders that applications already submitted before the directive will continue to be processed.
The Board added that it will fast track the review and issuance of pending buying licences, provided applicants meet all regulatory requirements and have fulfilled the necessary fee obligations.
GoldBod said it remains committed to working with stakeholders across the gold value chain to build a more accountable and internationally competitive gold trading system that protects the national interest.
Further details on the reform process and the revised licensing framework are expected to be communicated in due course.
