Micah Jonah, March 6, 2026
The governments of the United States and China, alongside several Western diplomatic missions, have urged Ghana to reconsider a proposed increase in gold mining royalties, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer, is considering replacing its fixed five percent royalty with a sliding scale ranging between five percent and twelve percent, linked to global gold prices. The proposal is aimed at allowing the government to capture more revenue as gold prices reach record highs.
However, diplomatic representatives from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and South Africa have raised concerns that the policy could negatively affect major mining operations in the country.
According to industry sources, representatives from the diplomatic missions recently met with Ghana’s minister for lands and natural resources, presented a joint document outlining their concerns about the potential impact of the proposed royalty scale on mining investments.
Mining executives have also reportedly expressed private reservations about the proposal. Leaders of major global mining companies, including Newmont Corporation, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti and Perseus Mining, are said to have communicated their concerns to Ghanaian authorities.
Chinese mining companies operating in Ghana, such as Zijin Mining, Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining and Shandong Gold Group, have also filed formal objections to the proposed policy.
Industry groups warn that the higher royalty bands could make Ghana one of the most expensive mining jurisdictions in Africa, potentially affecting profitability and future investments.
Ghanaian authorities have not yet publicly responded to the diplomatic concerns, however, discussions between the government and industry stakeholders are expected to continue as the proposed policy moves closer to possible implementation.
