Precious Stones

Ghana's diamond mining industry has produced primarily industrial grade gems since the 1920's, mainly mined from the Birim and the Bonza diamondiferous fields. Diamonds found in Ghana are found in alluvial gravel. Their sources are not yet known. There have been reports of sporadic diamond occurrences in other parts of Ghana.

More than 11 million carats of proven and probable reserves are located about seventy miles northwest of Accra. Currently, 1 million carats is produced a year in the country, making Ghana No. 9 of the diamond producers in the world. About 17 % is mined in Akwatia. Their usual size is less than 1 carat.

A large amount of the diamonds origins from so called small-scale mining. In 1989 the government established the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC), the former Ghana Diamond Marketing Board (established in 1963) to purchase minerals from small producers in an effort to stem diamond smuggling. All export is done by the PMMC.

Ghana is member of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme since January 2003.

 »The Kimberly Process