GoldBod: XRF Gold Purity Rules Ghana Replace Water Density

• The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) is implementing new gold purity testing rules for local purchases, effective October 1, 2026.
• X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing will become the definitive method for determining gold doré purity for GoldBod and its licensed buyers.
• The Water Density method will now only provide an indication of purity, and its use as a final determinant will incur a 0.7 percent purity discount.
• A tolerance level of plus or minus 0.1 percent has been set for differences between successive XRF test results.
• All licensed gold buyers and aggregators must comply with these new regulations by the deadline, or face regulatory action under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025.

Failure to comply with these updated GoldBod licensed gold buyers regulations will constitute a breach of license conditions, potentially leading to significant regulatory or enforcement actions under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced a significant transformation in the methodology for assessing gold purity in local purchases, with new regulations set to take effect on October 1, 2026. This pivotal change, communicated through a compliance notice issued on September 28 by the Board's Compliance Directorate, marks a departure from traditional testing practices.

Under the revised GoldBod XRF gold purity rules Ghana, the long-standing Water Density method will no longer serve as the definitive basis for determining gold purity, its associated price, or final payment. Instead, its role will be relegated to providing only an initial indication of purity. This strategic shift aims to standardize and enhance the accuracy of gold transactions across the nation.

The new framework establishes X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing as the conclusive method for determining the purity of gold doré acquired by GoldBod and its network of licensed buyers. Consequently, all applicable payments for gold will be directly linked to the purity levels ascertained through this advanced XRF methodology. This move underscores a commitment to precision and transparency in the gold market.

However, GoldBod has outlined specific exceptions where the Water Density method may still be utilized. Should a licensed buyer encounter genuine operational or logistical impediments preventing the use of XRF, or if both the buyer and seller mutually agree to employ the Water Density method, a 0.7 percent purity discount will be applied to the purchase. Furthermore, to ensure consistency and reliability in the new system, GoldBod has introduced a GoldBod gold purity tolerance level, stipulating that the permissible difference between successive XRF test results for the same gold or transaction must not exceed plus or minus 0.1 percent. Any discrepancies beyond this narrow margin necessitate verification before the transaction can be finalized or must be formally reported to the Board.

These comprehensive Ghana Gold Board X-Ray Fluorescence regulations are universally applicable to all Ghana gold aggregators XRF testing operations and GoldBod licensed gold buyers regulations. Affected entities have been explicitly directed to ensure complete preparedness and adherence to these changes by the October 1, 2026, deadline. The Board emphasizes that this notice forms an integral part of the terms and conditions governing the licenses issued to these operators.

Failure to comply with these updated GoldBod licensed gold buyers regulations will constitute a breach of license conditions, potentially leading to significant regulatory or enforcement actions under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140). Legal and compliance teams for licensed gold buyers and aggregators in Ghana must therefore immediately review and update their operational procedures to align with GoldBod's new XRF gold purity testing as the definitive method, ensuring Ghana Gold Board Act 2025 compliance and avoiding penalties.

Legal and compliance teams for licensed gold buyers and aggregators in Ghana must immediately review and update their operational procedures to align with GoldBod's new XRF gold purity testing as the definitive method by October 1, 2026. Failure to comply could result in regulatory and enforcement actions under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025, necessitating client advisories on the new testing protocols and potential discounts for non-XRF methods.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian Times