The Ghana Chamber of Mines has proposed an alternative Ghana gold royalty framework aimed at increasing government revenue from the mining sector while safeguarding investment and employment within the industry.
Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber, Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, said the proposal was presented to the government during consultations on the newly introduced sliding-scale royalty regime for gold but was ultimately not adopted.
According to him, the industry’s proposal sought to strike a balance between government revenue generation and the long-term sustainability of mining operations.
“Give us an 8% plus one,” Mr Nantogmah explained while outlining the proposal. “That 8% is the royalty that we pay. The 1% will be on net.”
The proposal includes a community development levy.
Under the industry’s suggested framework, the sliding-scale royalty would be capped at eight per cent rather than the twelve per cent ceiling introduced under the government’s new policy.
In addition, mining companies would contribute a one per cent levy on net revenue dedicated specifically to development projects in mining communities.
Mr Nantogmah said the objective of the additional levy is to ensure that communities directly benefit from increases in global gold prices.
“That 1% will then be tied into specific projects for community development so that people will know that as the gold price went up, there was a 1% that came directly to the community.” - Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah
Concerns over the new royalty regime
Ghana began implementing a new sliding-scale royalty system for gold on March 10, 2026, replacing the long-standing flat five per cent royalty previously paid by mining companies.
Under the new structure, royalty rates rise alongside global gold prices and can reach twelve per cent when bullion prices hit $4,500 per ounce. With gold currently trading above $5,000 per ounce, companies could immediately face the highest band of the tax structure.
Industry leaders argue that the higher royalty rate, when combined with existing statutory levies, could significantly increase the tax burden on mining firms.
Mr Nantogmah maintained that the industry’s proposed cap would still allow the government to capture additional revenue during price booms while protecting jobs and maintaining Ghana’s attractiveness as a mining destination.
Model inspired by the lithium sector
He also pointed to Ghana’s emerging lithium industry as a model for community development contributions.
Citing the Atlantic Lithium agreement, Mr Nantogmah noted that the mining lease includes a one per cent community development fund designed to support local projects.
The Chamber believes adopting a similar approach in the gold sector could strengthen public trust in mining activities while ensuring that communities share directly in the benefits of rising mineral prices.
Despite the government proceeding with the current royalty regime, the Chamber of Mines says it remains open to continued dialogue on potential adjustments to the policy.
