The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced that X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing will be the definitive basis for determining gold purity, pricing and payment for all gold doré bought by the Board and its licensed buyers from Thursday, October 1, 2026. Where the older Water Density method is still used, gold will be bought at a 0.7 percent purity discount.
The changes are contained in a compliance notice dated September 28, 2026. Under the new rules, the Water Density method will only serve as an indicative assessment of gold purity and will no longer be the final basis for payment.
GoldBod has directed all aggregators and licensed buyers to be ready to comply by October 1. The Board warned that failure to comply would be a breach of licence conditions under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
The notice revises an earlier directive. On August 17, 2026, GoldBod issued a compliance notice making XRF assay mandatory from September 1, with different discount and tolerance levels.
GoldBod makes XRF the definitive gold purity test
From October 1, XRF results become the main technical reference for determining the purity of gold doré and calculating what sellers are paid.
XRF is a machine-based testing method. The Water Density method, which has been widely used in local gold buying, is now reduced to a preliminary check.
Water Density gold testing to attract 0.7% purity discount
GoldBod is allowing licensed buyers to keep using the Water Density method in two situations: where XRF cannot be used because of operational or logistical constraints, or where both buyer and seller voluntarily agree to it.
In either case, the gold will be bought at a 0.7 percent discount on the purity obtained.
How the new GoldBod assay rules compare with the September 1 directive
The October 1 rules change two key figures set in the August 17 compliance notice:
- Water Density purity discount: minimum 0.5% (September 1 directive) vs 0.7% (from October 1)
- Permitted difference between two XRF reports: ±0.05% (September 1 directive) vs ±0.1% (from October 1)
- Status of Water Density: interim measure when XRF is not possible vs indicative assessment only, not a basis for payment
- Legal basis: licence conditions under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140) in both notices
XRF tolerance limit set at plus or minus 0.1%
GoldBod has set a tolerance threshold for XRF testing. The permissible purity difference between two XRF reports for the same transaction must stay within plus or minus 0.1 percent.
Where the difference goes beyond that range, further verification must be done before the transaction is completed.
What the new gold assay rules mean for small-scale miners and gold buyers
For small-scale miners and other sellers, the price they receive will now depend on XRF readings rather than Water Density results.
Sellers who agree to Water Density testing, or who deal with buyers without XRF machines, will receive payment on a purity figure that is 0.7 percent lower than the reading obtained.
For licensed buyers and aggregators, the rules add pressure to have working XRF equipment in place, since Water Density purchases now come at a cost. Buyers who do not comply risk regulatory or enforcement action.
The directive is the latest in a series of GoldBod measures affecting the local gold trade. GhanaTrends recently reported that Ghana’s gold shipments resumed after an August slowdown.
What happens next
The new assay regime takes effect on Thursday, October 1, 2026. All aggregators and licensed buyers are expected to be operationally ready by that date.
GoldBod has not publicly stated the reason for revising the discount and tolerance figures set in August. Enforcement will be carried out under Act 1140.
Key details at a glance
- Effective date: October 1, 2026
- Compliance notice dated: September 28, 2026
- XRF becomes the definitive basis for gold purity, pricing and payment
- Water Density method now only an indicative assessment
- 0.7% purity discount where Water Density is used (up from 0.5%)
- XRF tolerance between two reports: ±0.1% (previously ±0.05%)
- Non-compliance is a licence breach under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140)
FAQs
When do GoldBod’s new gold testing rules start?
The new rules take effect on October 1, 2026. They were announced in a GoldBod compliance notice dated September 28, 2026.
What is the discount for gold tested with the Water Density method?
Gold bought using the Water Density method will attract a 0.7 percent purity discount. This applies where XRF cannot be used or where buyer and seller agree to use Water Density.
What is XRF testing in gold buying?
XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) is a machine-based method for measuring gold purity. From October 1, GoldBod will use XRF results as the final basis for pricing and payment.
In summary, GoldBod has made XRF testing the final word on gold purity and payment from October 1, 2026, raised the Water Density discount to 0.7 percent, and widened the XRF tolerance to ±0.1 percent, with licensed buyers who fail to comply facing sanctions under Act 1140.
