The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has pledged its support for veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie’s ambitious African Youth Mentorship Initiative, which seeks to inspire, develop and empower about 500,000 young Africans.
The commitment was announced when the celebrated actor paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, at the Board’s headquarters in Accra.
The mentorship initiative forms part of Edochie’s broader African Legacy Project, which also includes a new book and a documentary film, all aimed at preserving Africa’s cultural heritage while inspiring the continent’s next generation.
Mr Gyamfi said the initiative complemented GoldBod’s existing Special Intervention Projects (SIP), particularly those focused on mentorship, training and entrepreneurship.
“We count ourselves in. We’ll be part and parcel of this inspiring project because we have the youth at heart,” he said, signalling GoldBod’s intention to contribute to the programme.
He commended Mr Edochie for using his decades-long career and personal experiences to create a platform that extends beyond entertainment to inspire young Africans.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the initiative provided an opportunity to harness the influence and experience of accomplished Africans to guide young people and equip them with the confidence and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development.
A significant aspect of the engagement was the revelation that GoldBod and its work had been featured in Mr Edochie’s new book.
Mr Gyamfi described the inclusion as both surprising and an honour, saying it reflected Mr Edochie’s interest in Africa’s development and the responsible management of the continent’s natural resources.
He said the actor’s advocacy demonstrated that his contribution to Africa went beyond the entertainment industry, particularly in promoting the need for Africans to exercise greater sovereignty over their mineral resources.
Mr Gyamfi also outlined government efforts to transform Ghana’s gold sector since the establishment of GoldBod in October 2025.
According to him, Ghana repatriated US$10.8 billion from gold in 2025, while the cedi appreciated by 41 per cent against the US dollar during the year.
He further said Ghana ended the year with 5.7 months of import cover, while inflation declined from 23.3 per cent to about five per cent.
Mr Gyamfi attributed the developments, in part, to measures aimed at giving Ghana greater control over the trading and management of its gold resources and ensuring that the proceeds from the sector benefit the Ghanaian population.
The engagement between GoldBod and Mr Edochie thus brought together three broad themes—African cultural legacy, youth empowerment and economic sovereignty—with the parties signalling the importance of investing in young Africans while promoting greater African ownership of the continent’s resources.
By: Christian Kpesese
