At the JoyBusiness Review 2025 economic forum, Joe Jackson, the Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, characterized the GoldBod initiative as a transformative “game changer” for the Ghanaian economy.
He explained that the program’s timing was exceptionally fortunate, as its rollout coincided with a dramatic surge in international gold prices, which climbed from approximately $2,000 to $4,000 per ounce over the course of the year. This framework enabled Ghana to fully capture the benefits of these favorable market conditions, providing a significant boost to the nation’s financial standing.
However, Jackson offered a note of caution, advising that these record earnings should be managed as a temporary windfall rather than a permanent revenue stream. He emphasized that because gold is a volatile commodity, the government must be disciplined in how it allocates these funds to ensure the country can withstand future periods of economic downturn.
He specifically praised the decision to direct a large portion of these gains into national reserves, a strategy that has been instrumental in strengthening and stabilizing the cedi against major foreign currencies.
The sustained high price of gold was also linked to global geopolitical uncertainty, with Jackson noting that many investors are using the metal as a hedge against the unpredictable policy environment of the Trump administration in the United States.
Despite the clear successes of GoldBod, Jackson stressed that there is still work to be done, particularly in the area of revenue protection. He urged authorities to leverage data more effectively to track every ounce of gold produced in the country, arguing that a tech-driven crackdown on smuggling is essential to ensuring that the state receives its full share of the ongoing mineral boom.
