Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Simons said independent, self-financed gold aggregators are struggling to compete with the state-designated apex aggregator, Bawa Rock Limited. According to him, Bawa Rock receives interest-free funding from the Bank of Ghana, while private aggregators depend on commercial bank loans that attract market interest rates. Who will win?”He explained that this advantage enables Bawa Rock to operate at lower costs and outcompete private aggregators when buying gold from small-scale miners and licensed buyers. Simons further noted that private aggregators are unhappy that Bawa Rock is operating more as a direct competitor rather than a coordinating apex body. “They are telling us that right now Bawa Rock, beyond the fact that it sits at the apex, is competing with the self-financed aggregators.

Source: GhanaWeb January 04, 2026 00:53 UTC