According to MiningWeekly, citing Reuters, the head of Ghana’s mining regulatory authority—the largest gold-producing country in Africa—revealed that the country’s largest greenfield gold mine in a decade will begin production in November, with an estimated annual output exceeding 350,000 ounces.
　　The mine, named Cardinal Namdini, is owned by Cardinal Resources and received its license in 2020.
　　Ghana remains the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa. Over the past decade, reduced investment in gold exploration and a shortage of new projects have led to declining output from major gold companies.
　　Martin Ayisi, Director of the Ghana Minerals Commission, stated that three other new mines—including a lithium mining project—are set to begin operations by 2026, which will boost this West African nation’s mineral production and help it emerge from its worst economic crisis in a decade.
　　In 2013, Newmont launched the Akyem gold mine in southeastern Ghana—a large greenfield mine that is among the country’s most recently commissioned projects.
　　On August 26, Ais revealed in an interview that since then, “exploration has been on a steady decline,” but “now we’re starting to work hard to recover.”
　　“First is the Cardinal-Nandini, a massive mine with an annual gold production capacity of 358,000 ounces. In mid-2025, Newmont will begin operations at another large-scale mine—Ahafo North.”
　　He said that the two mines could add 600,000 ounces of gold production annually to Ghana, while also boosting economic growth and creating hundreds of new jobs.
　　In 2023, Ghana’s gold production reached 4.03 million ounces, primarily driven by an increase in small-scale and artisanal gold mining output.
　　Ais revealed that two additional new mines—namely, a gold mine operated by Azumah Resources located in the country’s northwest region along the border with Burkina Faso, and the country’s first lithium project—will begin production in 2026. The owner of the lithium mine is Atlantic Lithium.
　　Mining companies welcomed Ghana’s stable fiscal system, but at the same time noted that high costs and bureaucratic red tape are hindering their investments.
　　Ais stated that the Minerals Resources Commission will work with the government to reduce exploration taxes.
　　“Côte d'Ivoire ranks first in exploration investment because they’ve lowered exploration taxes. We’re fourth, but we have the potential to become number one,” he said.
　　In the first seven months, Ghana’s gold production reached 2.5 million ounces, of which 42% came from small-scale and artisanal mining, as rising gold prices spurred gold mining activities.