Multinational mining firms in Ghana contribute a larger portion of royalties compared to their share of gold production. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, highlighted this trend. He stated that companies with majority ownership from the United States produced 12% of Ghana’s gold output in 2025. Yet, these firms paid 23% of the total royalties collected.
The data presented reveals further disparities. Chinese-owned mining companies produced 10% of the country’s total gold output. They also contributed 23% to the royalty payments. South African-owned companies accounted for 18% of production. However, they paid a significant 37% in royalties. This suggests an uneven distribution of the royalty burden based on ownership.
Canadian and Australian mining companies also showed similar patterns. They contributed 2% and 3% of production respectively. Each paid 5% in royalties. In contrast, Ghanaian-owned large-scale mining companies produced just 4% of total output. The broader local sector contributed 7% of production.
Mr. Ashigbey argued that these figures indicate an imbalance in Ghana’s mining economy. Multinational firms pay more in royalties relative to their production volume. He stated that the small-scale mining sector, which produced 52% of the total output, paid almost no royalties. This situation is unsustainable, he contends.
He believes Ghana’s current mining revenue system is not delivering optimal value. This affects both the state and host communities. Reforms are necessary to ensure better returns from mineral resources. Mr. Ashigbey stressed the need to rethink royalty distribution. Currently, most royalties go into the Consolidated Fund, not directly to mining areas. Only 8% of mineral royalties are disbursed to mining communities. This must change for local development, he argued.
The current structure dictates that 78% of royalties enter the Consolidated Fund. The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) receives 2%. The remaining 20% is shared among various state institutions. Mr. Ashigbey is concerned that too much revenue remains centralised in Accra. This limits direct benefits for local development projects in mining areas.
He acknowledged that large-scale mining firms contribute substantially through taxes and royalties. Despite public criticism, these multinational companies are significant revenue generators for the government. Therefore, Mr. Ashigbey called for a national conversation. This discussion should focus on how Ghana can maximise its mineral wealth. It should also ensure equitable development for all mining communities.