Omanghana
The Ghana Gold Board has announced that X-Ray Fluorescence assay will become the mandatory standard for determining the purity of gold traded in Ghana from September 1, 2026.
The directive applies across the licensed gold supply chain and is intended to establish a more accurate, transparent and consistent system for valuing the precious metal.
Under the new policy, licensed buyers, aggregators and Tier 1 and Tier 2 dealers must use certified XRF equipment when assessing gold presented for purchase or sale.
The directive will effectively end the use of the traditional water density method as the definitive basis for determining purity in commercial transactions.
GoldBod said operators must acquire approved testing equipment, train relevant employees and keep detailed records of all measurements conducted during transactions.
The requirements form part of wider efforts to formalize Ghana’s gold trade, improve confidence in purity assessments and reduce disputes between miners, dealers, aggregators and state institutions.
How XRF Testing Works
X-Ray Fluorescence is a scientific method used to identify the elements contained in a material and estimate their concentrations.
When used in the gold industry, an XRF device directs X-rays at the metal being tested. The material responds by emitting secondary fluorescent X-rays that allow the equipment to analyze its elemental composition.
The method can help determine how much gold is present and detect other metals, such as silver, copper or zinc, that may have been added to or naturally mixed with it.
XRF testing is generally faster and more standardized than traditional field-testing techniques. Results can be produced within a relatively short period without significantly damaging the gold sample.
Its introduction as the mandatory standard is expected to reduce differences in purity assessments between separate buyers and testing locations.
Water Density Method Phased Out
For years, sections of Ghana’s small-scale gold market have relied on the water density method to estimate purity.
The process typically compares the weight of a gold sample in air with its weight when submerged in water. The resulting density measurement is then used to estimate the proportion of gold in the material.
Although the method is inexpensive and widely understood, its accuracy can be affected by several factors, including the shape of the sample, trapped air, surface contamination and the presence of other metals.
It may also produce different results when measurements are conducted under inconsistent conditions or by operators with varying levels of experience.
From September 1, GoldBod will no longer accept water density results as the final basis for determining purity in ordinary gold transactions.
The change means buyers and sellers will be expected to rely on properly calibrated XRF devices before agreeing on the definitive purity and value of a consignment.
Licensed Operators Required to Acquire Certified Equipment
All licensed entities affected by the directive must ensure that their XRF equipment meets the standards recognized by GoldBod.
Purchasing a device alone will not be enough. Dealers must ensure that employees responsible for testing understand how to operate the equipment, interpret results and follow the required procedures.
Improper use, poor calibration or inadequate sample preparation could still produce inaccurate readings, even when modern equipment is available.
GoldBod is therefore requiring operators to provide appropriate training and maintain systems that support reliable and repeatable testing.
The policy covers licensed buyers and aggregators as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 dealers operating at different levels of the gold supply chain.
Smaller operators may face higher initial costs as they purchase equipment and train staff. However, regulators expect the transition to improve confidence and reduce losses caused by unreliable purity assessments.
Detailed Records Required for Every Measurement
Licensed operators will be required to maintain accurate records of XRF measurements conducted during gold transactions.
These records are expected to provide an auditable trail showing how the purity of each consignment was determined.
Reliable documentation could help resolve disagreements when a seller, buyer, aggregator or regulator later produces a different result for the same gold.
Record keeping will also allow GoldBod to monitor whether licensed entities are complying with established testing procedures.
The requirement is expected to improve traceability and make it more difficult for traders to manipulate results or apply inconsistent standards to different customers.
Operators will need to treat assay data as a core part of their transaction documentation rather than as an informal calculation.
Temporary Rules When XRF Equipment Is Unavailable
GoldBod has provided a limited contingency arrangement for situations in which an XRF device is genuinely unavailable because of logistical constraints.
In such circumstances, the water density method may be used temporarily, but only as an indicative measurement.
An indicative result is a provisional estimate and cannot be treated as the final determination of purity.
Any gold purchased under this exception must be valued using a minimum purity discount of 0.5% until GoldBod conducts a definitive XRF assessment.
The discount is intended to protect the buyer against the risk that the provisional water density reading may have overstated the actual purity of the gold.
For example, a consignment provisionally estimated at a particular purity level would be purchased on the basis of a reading at least 0.5 percentage points lower, pending confirmation.
The exception is not intended to permit dealers to continue routinely using the traditional method after the deadline. Operators relying on it will need to demonstrate that XRF testing was genuinely unavailable because of a legitimate logistical problem.
GoldBod’s final XRF assessment will determine the definitive purity applicable to the transaction.
Strict Tolerance Introduced for Repeated Readings
The regulator has also introduced a tolerance limit of plus or minus 0.05% when successive XRF readings are compared during the same transaction.
Any difference beyond that threshold must trigger a mandatory reconciliation process.
The rule is designed to ensure that repeated measurements remain consistent and that unexplained variations are investigated before a transaction is completed.
A larger discrepancy may result from calibration problems, inconsistent sample positioning, surface contamination, non-uniform composition or faults in the testing device.
Mandatory reconciliation could require the parties to conduct additional tests, inspect the equipment, prepare the sample again or refer the matter to GoldBod.
The procedure is expected to limit disputes and prevent either party from selecting only the assay result most favorable to its financial interest.
Because even a small difference in purity can affect the value of a large gold consignment, consistent readings are essential to fair pricing.
Policy Expected to Improve Transparency in Gold Pricing
Gold is generally valued according to its weight, purity and the prevailing market price.
When buyers and sellers disagree over purity, the difference can significantly alter the amount paid. This creates opportunities for conflict, underpayment and deliberate manipulation.
Small-scale miners and local sellers may be especially vulnerable when they do not have access to independent testing equipment and must depend entirely on a buyer’s assessment.
Standardizing XRF testing could provide a common scientific basis for negotiations and reduce reliance on subjective or inconsistent methods.
The reform may also strengthen confidence among international buyers who require reliable information about the quality and origin of Ghanaian gold.
Accurate assay records can support export documentation, financial reporting and wider efforts to improve traceability within the industry.
Non-Compliance Could Lead to Regulatory Sanctions
GoldBod has warned that failure to comply with the directive will constitute a direct breach of licensing conditions.
Affected operators who continue using the water density method as the definitive basis for transactions after September 1 could face regulatory and enforcement action under the Ghana Gold Board Act.
Sanctions may depend on the nature and severity of the violation, as well as whether the operator repeatedly disregards the rules.
Dealers could also face action for using uncertified equipment, failing to train staff, keeping inadequate records or ignoring the prescribed tolerance threshold.
The enforcement provisions are intended to ensure that the new system becomes an industry-wide standard rather than an optional practice followed only by larger companies.
Industry Faces Transition Costs
Although the policy promises long-term benefits, its implementation could create immediate challenges for smaller dealers and operators in remote mining communities.
Certified XRF machines can require significant capital investment. Businesses will also need to pay for training, maintenance, calibration and secure record-management systems.
Access to technical support may be limited in some gold-producing areas, potentially making it difficult to repair malfunctioning devices quickly.
Operators will have to complete these preparations before the September 1 deadline to avoid disruptions to their activities.
Industry associations may need to coordinate training programs and explore shared testing facilities where individual operators cannot immediately acquire their own equipment.
GoldBod will also be expected to provide clear technical standards and ensure that certification and verification services are accessible across the country.
Major Change for Ghana’s Gold Trade
Ghana remains one of Africa’s leading gold-producing countries, with small-scale mining contributing a significant share of national output.
Improving the accuracy and credibility of transactions is therefore important for miners, licensed dealers, exporters and the state.
The introduction of mandatory XRF testing represents a major change in how gold will be assessed and priced throughout the domestic supply chain.
If implemented effectively, the policy could reduce purity disputes, protect sellers from unfair valuations and provide regulators with better transaction data.
Its success will depend on consistent enforcement, access to certified equipment and adequate preparation by licensed operators.
From September 1, 2026, XRF assay results will become the definitive standard for gold purity in Ghana, while the traditional water density method will be limited to exceptional and temporary use.
Source: Omanghana
