West African nations target gold production growth and formalization

West African nations are working to formalize artisanal and small-scale gold mining to reduce smuggling and increase state oversight. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates that over 40 million people are directly engaged in artisanal mining, with up to 150 million people depending on the broader economic ecosystem, including transporters, merchants, and local service providers.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the government has set an ambitious goal to become Africa's leading gold producer by 2035. While Ghana currently leads the continent with approximately 186.6 tonnes produced, Côte d'Ivoire produced 59.33 tonnes in 2025. To reach its target, the Ivorian government is focusing on expanding mining capacities and organizing artisanal exploitation. A key component of this strategy is the Société ivoirienne des métaux précieux (SIMEP), which plans to launch a refining unit in the first half of 2027 with a capacity of roughly 100 tonnes per year.

Efforts to regulate the sector are particularly critical in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tanzania, where artisanal gold is a vital source of household income despite risks such as unsafe working conditions and debt.