The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) will adopt X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) assay as the definitive method for determining gold purity and payments for locally purchased gold from October 1, 2026.

Under the new regime, the water density method will only be used as an indicative assessment of gold purity and will no longer serve as the definitive basis for determining the purity, pricing or payment for gold purchased by GoldBod or its licensed buyers.

GoldBod announced the change in a compliance notice issued on Monday, September 28, as part of measures governing the determination of purity in local gold purchases.

The new regime requires XRF assay results to form the basis for determining the applicable payment for all gold doré purchased by GoldBod and its licensed buyers.

However, where a licensed buyer is unable to use XRF due to genuine operational or logistical constraints, or where the buyer and seller voluntarily agree to use water density, the gold doré will be purchased at a 0.7% purity discount on the purity determined through the water density method.

GoldBod has also directed licensed buyers to apply a purity deviation limit when comparing successive XRF assay reports for the same gold or transaction.

The permissible difference between two XRF reports has been set at plus or minus 0.1%.

Where the difference exceeds the permitted limit, the transaction must undergo further verification before it is concluded or reported to GoldBod.

The GoldBod said strict compliance with the new requirements will begin on October 1 and will form part of the terms and conditions attached to licences issued to aggregators and licensed gold buyers.

It warned that failure to comply with the notice would constitute a breach of applicable licence conditions and could attract regulatory or enforcement measures under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

All licensed buyers and aggregators have therefore been directed to take the necessary steps to ensure they are operationally ready for the new assay regime by October 1.