Ghana, represented by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), has been appointed Vice Chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) for 2026 and Chair for 2027.
The announcement was made on 21 November 2025 during the closing session of the 2025 Kimberley Process Plenary held at the ALMAS Conference Centre in Dubai.
The appointment followed two days of deliberations, ministerial engagements and extensive consultations among governments, industry actors and civil society.
The elevation makes Ghana the first West African country to serve as both Vice Chair and Chair of the global certification body that regulates the trade in rough diamonds.
Under the governance structure of the Kimberley Process, the Chair and Vice Chair are selected by consensus of the Plenary.
They are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), and for coordinating the various working groups, committees and administrative mechanisms that guide the KP’s operations.
Observers at the Plenary noted that a statement delivered during the Ministerial Session by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq., helped shape the discussions and strengthened confidence in Ghana’s leadership credentials.
The announcement of the country’s appointment was greeted with warm applause, signalling strong consensus and trust in Ghana’s capability to steer the international body.
Delegates also praised Ghana for its rising leadership in the global minerals sector, citing improvements in transparency, institutional reforms and the country’s growing technical expertise in gold and diamond governance.
In an interview, the CEO of the GoldBod, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi Esq., confirmed the historic appointment and expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in Ghana. He noted that the endorsement places a renewed responsibility on the country to lead with excellence, transparency and innovation. With ongoing reforms in the gold and diamond sectors, he said, Ghana is well-positioned to guide the KP into a new era of global impact.
About the Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process, established in 2003 by the United Nations, is a multilateral certification scheme aimed at preventing conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate global supply chain. Its primary objective is to ensure that diamond revenues do not fuel armed conflict, terrorism or civil instability.
The KP comprises 86 participants, represented by governments, the World Diamond Council (industry) and the KP Civil Society Coalition.
Over its 20-year history, the Kimberley Process has achieved significant progress, including a major reduction in illicit diamond flows from conflict zones, the establishment of a uniform global certification system, improved traceability and transparency in the diamond supply chain, and the creation of a platform for cooperation among governments, industry and civil society.
Past Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
- 2003: Chair – South Africa; Vice Chair – Canada
- 2004: Chair – Canada; Vice Chair – Russian Federation
- 2005: Chair – Russian Federation; Vice Chair – Botswana
- 2006: Chair – Botswana; Vice Chair – European Commission
- 2007: Chair – European Commission; Vice Chair – India
- 2008: Chair – India; Vice Chair – Namibia
- 2009: Chair – Namibia; Vice Chair – Israel
- 2010: Chair – Israel; Vice Chair – DRC
- 2011: Chair – DRC; Vice Chair – United States
- 2012: Chair – United States; Vice Chair – South Africa
- 2013: Chair – South Africa; Vice Chair – China
- 2014: Chair – China; Vice Chair – Angola
- 2015: Chair – Angola; Vice Chair – United Arab Emirates
- 2016: Chair – United Arab Emirates; Vice Chair – Australia
- 2017: Chair – Australia; Vice Chair – European Union
- 2018: Chair – European Union; Vice Chair – India
- 2019: Chair – India; Vice Chair – Russian Federation
- 2020: No chairmanship due to COVID-19
- 2021: Chair – Russian Federation; Vice Chair – Botswana
- 2022: Chair – Botswana; Vice Chair – Zimbabwe
- 2023: Chair – Zimbabwe; Vice Chair – United Arab Emirates
- 2024: Chair – United Arab Emirates; Vice Chair – (not listed)
- 2025: Chair – United Arab Emirates; Vice Chair – Thailand
