Gold is a precious metal that retains value. It is also highly durable and can last indefinitely as long as you maintain it with proper care. Gold has been a valuable commodity in Africa from ancient times. Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana is today the second largest producer of gold in Africa after South Africa.
Bars
A Ghanaian gold bar comprises of a quantity of refined metallic gold of any shape, which is made by a gold bar producer in accordance with the standard conditions for manufacture, labeling and record keeping. Larger gold bars in Ghana may be produced by pouring molten metal into molds referred to as ingots. On the other hand, the smaller gold bars may be manufactured in Ghana through minting or stamping from gold sheets that are appropriately rolled. Ghanaian gold bars are therefore classified based on their manufacturing method, which may be minted or casted.
Chinese Involvement
Every year, a total of 24 tons of Ghanaian gold are exported to China from Chinese-run mines in Ghana. China’s relationship with Ghana and Africa as a whole hinges on the importation of raw materials such as gold with the Asian tiger requires to fuel its economic growth. In exchange, China sells its goods to nations such as Ghana, which also benefit from the financial support of the Chinese government for important infrastructure projects.
Export
Gold is Ghana’s biggest export in nominal terms, with the precious metal bringing in almost 48% of the revenue of the West African country. After South Africa, Ghana is the largest producer of gold in Africa. When preparing Ghanaian gold for export, the exporter will need to include a letter to accompany the gold, which identifies the exact address of the recipient and airline. An invoice will also indicate the purity and weight of the gold being exported. Gold is typically exported while sealed and secured in metal or wooden specie boxes. By focusing on gold exports, Ghana has been able to succeed in protecting its environment as well as providing Ghanaians with employment opportunities. With one of the largest gold reserves in the world, Ghana employs modernized operations and environmentally-friendly methods for the mining and processing of its gold reserves.
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in Ashanti, South Ghana. Located near Lake Bosumtwi in the Rain Forest region of Ghana, Kumasi is the cultural, industrial and commercial hub of Asanteman. Due to the large gold deposits that have been mined in the area Kumasi today ranks as one of Africa’s wealthier cities. The major exports of Kumasi are gold bars, cocoa and hardwood. Over 90% of the Ghana’s gold output comes from the Ashanti region of Ghana. Today, the Ghanaian government faces the challenge of educating small scale gold miners and supporting them in switching to modernized and environmentally-friendly extraction methods.
Necklaces
As with other types of gold jewelry, gold necklaces do not go out of style. This is because gold jewelry is as beautiful as it is wearer-friendly. Pure gold Ghanaian necklaces will not react with other elements to form tarnish that may be transferred onto your skin as a stain. Gold is ideal for use in necklaces as it can be worked into almost any shape, including tiny strands for necklaces which will not easily break. When selecting your gold necklace from Ghana, be sure to go for one made out of solid gold. This is ideal if you are looking for a durable piece that you can wear regularly. If you have allergies to nickel and other metals, you may select a gold necklace that has a high gold content such as 18k or 22k. Ghanaian gold plated or filled necklaces are ideal if you are only going to wear them occasionally, but not for everyday use which could eventually diminish the gold layer.
Nuggets
A gold nugget is a naturally occurring fragment of native gold which has weathered out of an original lode. Ghanaian gold is available in the form of nuggets which may be sourced from watercourses, in placers or recovered by placer mining or in residual deposits. Ghanaian gold nuggets may also be found in the tailings piles from previous mining operations, specifically those left by the gold mining dredges. Ghanaian gold nuggets are beautiful and tend to have a lot of character. Although rare, it is possible to find some nuggets that have such amazing detail as well. You can tell the size of a Ghanaian gold nugget by its weight. A big gold nugget is typically heavy, although it may be relatively thin in relation to its size, which provides it with a larger surface area than normal. A large surface area is a very desirable quality in investment grade gold nuggets.
Quality
Gold from Ghana is generally of a high quality in comparison with that from most other gold exporting countries. If you are looking for pure gold that is solid and durable, your best bet would be to source your metal from a gold dealer in Ghana. Ghanaian gold is generally refined using state of the art methods that ensure that it is as pure as possible. The process of refining the gold is often critically examined by experts to ensure that the quality promised is delivered by the gold mining company.
When shopping for gold items, remember that the higher the karat quality, the more vulnerable the item will be to damage with regular wear. While it is not a legal requirement for gold items to have a karat quality stamp or hallmark, be sure to ask the salesperson to guarantee that it is solid gold and therefore of good quality. Avoid buying gold items if you are concerned about their authenticity and quality.
Whether you are treating yourself or shopping for a special occasion, buying gold jewelry can be a delightful experience. The next time you have gold on your mind, be sure to try out Ghanaian gold as you are guaranteed not to be disappointed.
