Ghana has made history as the first West African country to be appointed Vice-Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) in 2026 and Chair in 2027.
The announcement, made on 21 November 2025 at the closing session of the Kimberley Process Plenary in Dubai, reflects global confidence in the country’s leadership in gold and diamond governance.
The decision follows two days of intensive deliberations, ministerial engagements, and consultations among governments, industry stakeholders, and civil society.
Ghana’s appointment underscores its growing prominence in the global minerals sector and its reputation for transparency, institutional reforms, and technical expertise in gold and diamond governance.
Observers at the plenary noted that a thought-provoking statement delivered by Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq., Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, during the ministerial session helped set the tone for Ghana’s leadership.
When the announcement was made, the conference room erupted with applause, reflecting broad consensus and confidence in Ghana’s ability to guide the Kimberley Process.
In an interview, Mr. Gyamfi described the appointment as a renewed responsibility for Ghana to lead with excellence, transparency, and innovation.
He emphasised that the ongoing reforms in the country’s gold and diamond sectors provide a solid foundation for Ghana to steer the KP into its next chapter of global impact.
Established by the United Nations in 2003, the Kimberley Process is a multilateral certification scheme designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate global supply chain.
Its central objective is to ensure that revenues from diamonds do not finance armed conflicts, terrorism, or civil instability.
The KP currently brings together 86 countries, represented by governments, the World Diamond Council, and the KP Civil Society Coalition.
Over the past two decades, the KP has achieved significant successes, including a substantial reduction in illicit diamond flows from formerly war-torn regions, the creation of a unified global certification regime enhancing traceability and transparency, and the establishment of a cooperative platform for governments, industry, and civil society to address emerging risks in the diamond sector.
Ghana’s appointment as Vice Chair and Chair places the country in a strategic position to influence global diamond governance, further solidifying its stature in the international minerals industry.
Ghana’s appointment places it among a distinguished list of countries that have led the Kimberley Process over the past two decades. Since its establishment in 2003, the KP has rotated leadership annually through a consensus of its plenary members. Past chairs and vice-chairs include South Africa and Canada in 2003, Canada and the Russian Federation in 2004, and the Russian Federation and Botswana in 2005.
Botswana, the European Commission, India, Namibia, Israel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States, China, Angola, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, the European Union, Zimbabwe, and Thailand have also held key leadership positions in subsequent years.
Notably, there was no chairmanship in 2020 due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the KP as a global governance framework.
With Ghana joining this roster, it becomes the first West African country to assume these top leadership roles, signalling both recognition of its strong governance in the minerals sector and the international community’s confidence in its ability to guide the KP’s mission in the coming years.
This historic achievement further positions Ghana as a strategic player in global diamond governance, offering the country a platform to shape policies, advance transparency, and enhance the ethical trade of diamonds worldwide.
