Ghana has called on member states of the Kimberley Process (KP) to implement meaningful reforms to protect vulnerable mining communities and uphold the credibility of the global diamond certification system.
Speaking at the KP Ministerial Meeting in Dubai on November 20, 2025, Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi highlighted that the world has changed significantly since the KP’s establishment, and that reforms are long overdue.
He noted that while diamonds may no longer directly fund rebel conflicts as in past decades, many communities still endure “the violence of exploitation, dispossession and exclusion.” Gyamfi warned that stalled reforms could undermine the relevance and moral authority of the certification scheme.
The Ghanaian delegation emphasised that, although proposals for redefining “conflict diamonds” vary, they all share a common goal of addressing modern challenges. Gyamfi urged renewed consensus-building, stating that consensus should “be a path to progress and not a recipe for paralysis.”
He further cautioned that the pursuit of a perfect agreement should not delay urgent changes, urging the meeting to choose “renewal over stagnation and cooperation over narrow interest.”
Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners to strengthen the Kimberley Process, ensuring it continues to protect communities while supporting legitimate diamond trade.
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