Gold in Côte d’Ivoire: Five permits granted as country aims to overtake Ghana by 2035

Côte d’Ivoire’s government has granted five four-year gold exploration permits to Awale Resources, Etruscan Resources Côte d’Ivoire, Smart Mining Group and Tietto Minerals Côte d’Ivoire. Exploration will target areas including Gbéléban, Minignan, Bondoukou, Tanda, M’Bahiakro, Bouaké, Gagnoa and Soubré. Approved at a cabinet meeting on October 14, 2026, the permits support the country’s ambition to overtake Ghana as Africa’s leading gold producer by 2035. Ghana produced about 186.6 tonnes of gold in 2025, and exploration permits alone do not guarantee increased production.