LONDON – Sammy Gyamfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), said Africa’s rise cannot be  achieved as long as the continent continues to export its natural resources in raw form while importing value-added products.

He called for empowering Africans to take ownership of the strategic sectors that will shape the future of their economies.

Gyamfi made the remarks during his participation in the Africa Rising Symposium, organized by EMY Africa in London on July 30, 2026، under the theme “The Growing Relationship Between Africa and Its Global Diaspora, and Why This Moment Matters.” The symposium formed part of an international forum for dialogue on investment and development in Africa.

The symposium was held as part of a series of events organized by EMY Africa in the United Kingdom to commemorate the organization’s tenth anniversary. The programme also included the launch of the EMY Africa UK Special Issue Magazine on the same day, while the EMY Africa London Soirée is scheduled to take place on 2 August 2026.

The event aims to bring together government leaders, business executives, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the African diaspora to discuss strategic issues shaping the continent’s future. The symposium has also been hosted in cities including Accra, London and New York

Gyamfi noted that although Africa is rich in mineral resources, it continues to receive only a limited share of the economic value generated from those resources, adding:

“We export what nature gave us and import what human ingenuity created. We celebrate production and surrender processing, financing, innovation, and pricing power.”

Gyamfi: We Are Building a More Transparent and Better-Organized Gold Market

Gyamfi explained that the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) forms part of Ghana’s strategy to address this long-standing challenge. He said the Board is working to build a more organized and transparent gold trading system, increase local participation, promote value addition, and transform gold from a mere export commodity into a driver of economic stability, industrialization, and job creation.

He added that since its establishment, GoldBod has helped curb gold smuggling, streamline the gold supply chain, strengthen foreign exchange earnings, and create greater investment opportunities in gold production, responsible sourcing, and the manufacturing of gold-related products in Ghana. He also announced that the Board will soon introduce gold-backed digital investment assets، enabling more Africans to invest in and own a share of the continent’s mineral wealth.

Gyamfi stressed that Africa’s rise should not mean African resources flowing into the balance sheets of foreign companies while African youth remain unemployed. Instead, he said, those resources must create African industries, brands, jobs, and wealth, emphasizing that value addition and value retention within the continent are the keys to genuine economic transformation.

He also urged members of the African diaspora to move beyond family remittances and invest in productive sectors, transfer knowledge and technology, and help build businesses and institutions. According to Gyamfi, capital alone is not enough; it must be translated into projects capable of delivering sustainable development.

About EMY Africa

The EMY Africa Awards were launched in Ghana in 2016 and have grown into one of Africa’s leading platforms for recognizing outstanding leadership, excellence, and social impact. Originally established as the Exclusive Men of the Year Awards, the initiative later evolved into a broader pan-African platform celebrating achievements in business, governance, technology, media, the arts, and community service.

In addition to the awards, EMY Africa organizes the Africa Rising Symposium, its flagship thought-leadership forum, which brings together business leaders, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss the future of investment and development across the continent.

EMY Africa also publishes a specialized magazine and leads initiatives that support emerging leaders and strengthen engagement between Africa and its global diaspora. The organization’s name stands for Evolve. Motivate. Yield.

:Over the years, the awards have honored several distinguished African personalities, including

• Former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor
• Business leader Sir Sam Jonah
• Boxing legend Azumah Nelson
• Nigerian entrepreneur and media executive Adebola Williams, among many other prominent figures from politics, business, and culture.

The awards recognize outstanding achievers through local Ghanaian and continental honors such as Man of the Year and Woman of the Year, in addition to categories including:

• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Magnate Award
• Technology Award
• Agriculture Award
• Humanitarian Award
• Media Award
• Leadership & Mentorship Award
• Continental Icon Award
• Diasporan Award, presented to a Ghanaian living abroad who has made significant contributions to both their host community and Ghana’s development.

?Who Is Sammy Gyamfi

Sammy Gyamfi is a Ghanaian lawyer and politician who has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) since 2025. GoldBod is the government agency responsible for regulating Ghana’s gold and precious metals sector.

He leads efforts to regulate the gold market, combat smuggling, encourage refining and local processing, and ensure that Ghana retains a greater share of the value generated from its mineral resources. Gyamfi has also been a strong advocate for shifting Africa from exporting raw materials to developing value-added industries.

?GoldBod – What Is the Ghana Gold Board 

.The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is the government authority responsible for regulating Ghana’s gold trade

The Board was established as part of the Ghanaian government’s reforms aimed at increasing the value added to the country’s gold resources. Its mandate includes strengthening oversight of the gold market, combating smuggling, regulating artisanal mining and gold trading mechanisms, increasing local participation, and expanding domestic value addition, thereby enhancing gold’s contribution to economic development and foreign exchange earnings.

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