Ghana: Growing Diamond and Gold Revenues

(IDEX Online News) - Diamond production in Ghana increased 14 percent to 201,792 carats in the first half of 201, while revenue more than doubled to $6.9 million from $2.8 million in the first six months of 2009, according to the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

Diamond production in the second quarter fell to 99,008 carats from 121,899 in the second quarter of 2009. Sales however, jumped to $3.6 million from $2 million.

Gold production in the country, Africa’s largest producer of the metal after South Africa, rose 3.5 percent to 1.46 million ounces during the January-June period as revenue rose 31 percent to $1.68 billion.

In the second quarter, gold production totaled 759,062 ounces and sales generated revenues of $900.1 million.