Gold major Newmont has achieved commercial production at its Ahafo North project in Afrisipakrom, Ghana, marking the completion of one of West Africa’s most significant new gold developments.

The milestone follows the project’s first gold pour on September 19, representing the culmination of a multiyear development programme that included the construction of extensive infrastructure, commissioning of processing facilities and the implementation of workforce training initiatives.

“Achieving commercial production at Ahafo North represents a significant milestone for Newmont and our partners in Ghana,” said Newmont CEO Tom Palmer.

“This new world-class operation demonstrates our commitment to operational excellence while creating enduring value for our investors, communities, host governments and all our stakeholders in this premier mining jurisdiction.

"It’s rare in our industry to see a new mine come to life within a single career. I’m incredibly proud of what our teams have achieved and honored to have been part of this project from the very beginning," said Palmer, who is retiring as CEO at the end of December.

Ahafo North is expected to produce about 50 000 oz of gold in 2025, with output set to ramp up through 2026 to reach full operational capacity. Over the next five years, the mine is forecast to deliver between 275 000 oz/y and 325 000 oz/y of gold across a 13-year mine life.

The operation marks Newmont’s third major investment in Ghana and, following the divestment of the Akyem mine in April 2025, becomes the company’s second operational site in the country. Located about 50 km from Ahafo South, the new mine benefits from operational synergies with Newmont’s existing infrastructure while expanding its regional footprint with four openpit mines and a standalone mill.

During construction, Ahafo North created about 4 500 contracted jobs and has established 560 permanent and 1 000 contracted roles for ongoing operations.

The project underscores Newmont’s long-term commitment to Ghana and its goal of sustaining value creation through responsible mining and local partnerships.