You do not need to buy a coin or a tablet to own gold in Ghana. There are financial products that let you gain exposure to the gold price without worrying about storage, security, or where to hide your investment. Here is how they work.
The Main Option Available Today: The NewGold ETF
The simplest and most established way to invest in gold without holding the metal is through the NewGold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), which trades on the Ghana Stock Exchange under the ticker GLD .
What It Is
The NewGold ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the gold spot price. Each unit is approximately equivalent to 1/100th of an ounce of gold bullion, fully backed by physical gold held with a secure custodian. The product is structured as a debenture and complies with Shariah law .
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How to Buy It
You do not buy the ETF directly from Absa or the fund manager. You buy it through a licensed stockbroker on the Ghana Stock Exchange, just like buying shares .
Step-by-step:
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Open a brokerage account with a licensed dealing member of the GSE
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Place a buy order for GLD in standard board lots during normal market hours
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Settlement follows the GSE’s standard arrangements
Absa Securities has appointed Databank Brokerage Limited and Blackstar Brokerage Limited as additional local brokers for the ETF, broadening access for retail investors .
How Much Does It Cost?
The NewGold ETF has an annual sales charge of 0.300%. Standard brokerage fees also apply when you buy or sell, but these are typically small .
How It Has Performed
As of June 2026, the NewGold ETF had a 1-year return of 31.50% . The NAV price was GH₵480.69 as of April 2026 . Since inception in 2004, the fund’s average annual return has been 30.26% .
Why This Works for You
You get gold exposure without:
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Worrying about where to store a coin
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Paying for a safe or vault
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Risking theft or loss
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Carrying a certificate or certificate of ownership
The ETF handles all of that for you.
What Is Coming: Tokenised Gold and Gold-Backed Securities
The financial gold market in Ghana is evolving. Two new products are in development that will give Ghanaians even more ways to invest without physical metal.
Tokenised Gold
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has partnered with the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to pilot tokenised gold assets—digital tokens backed by physical gold .
How it would work: GoldBod would serve as the custodian of the physical gold underlying the tokens, handling assaying, verification, and vaulting. The tokens would be traded digitally, allowing investors to own fractions of gold .
The promise: SEC Deputy Director-General Mensah Thompson said tokenisation could allow “ordinary Ghanaians with GH¢10, GH¢15, GH¢20” to buy gold, because the asset can be broken into one-gramme units . GoldBod’s Director of Finance, Dr George Baah Danquah, confirmed investments could begin from as little as GH¢15 .
Status: GoldBod was admitted into the SEC’s Virtual Asset Sandbox in March 2026. The pilot will run for 12 months before public rollout .
Gold-Backed Securities
GoldBod and the Ghana Commodity exchange (GCX) are also in discussions to list gold-backed instruments on the exchange. This could include ETFs, derivatives, and other structured products that give investors exposure to gold without physical ownership .
The framework is being developed with the SEC to ensure regulatory compliance and investor protection .
The Key Difference: Physical vs Financial Gold
| Feature | Physical Gold (GGC & Tablets) | Financial Gold (NewGold ETF & Tokenised Gold) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Available now | NewGold ETF available now; tokenised gold in pilot phase |
| Minimum Investment | 1/4 oz GGC or 1g tablet | 1 unit of NewGold ETF; GH¢15 for tokenised gold (upcoming) |
| Storage | You store it or use a bank vault | The fund or GoldBod vaults the gold |
| Liquidity | Sell back to bank or GoldBod | Trade on GSE (NewGold ETF) |
| Counterparty Risk | Low (sovereign guarantee for GGC) | Moderate (custodian risk) |
| Price Transparency | Daily BoG pricing based on LBMA | Market-determined |
| Best For | Long-term wealth preservation | Flexibility and smaller investors |
What This Means for You
If you want to invest in gold right now, the NewGold ETF is your best option. It is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, you can buy it through any licensed broker, and it gives you direct exposure to the gold price without the hassles of physical ownership.
If you are willing to wait, tokenised gold could be revolutionary. It would allow you to buy fractions of a gramme for as little as GH¢15, trade easily, and potentially use your holdings as loan collateral. But it is not yet available to the public—the pilot must conclude and the SEC must issue final guidelines.
The bottom line is simple: you no longer need to hold a coin in your hand to own gold. The financial market is making it easier than ever to add gold to your portfolio.
Quick Facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| NewGold ETF Ticker | GLD |
| Unit Equivalent | 1/100 oz of gold bullion |
| Annual Sales Charge | 0.300% |
| 1-Year Return (June 2026) | 31.50% |
| Average Annual Return (Since Inception) | 30.26% |
| NAV Price (April 2026) | GH₵480.69 |
| Tokenised Gold Minimum | GH¢15 (upcoming) |
| Tokenised Gold Pilot | 12 months, started March 2026 |
| Key Custodian (Tokenised) | GoldBod |
| New Brokers (NewGold ETF) | Databank Brokerage, Blackstar Brokerage |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I invest in gold without buying physical gold in Ghana?
You can buy the NewGold ETF (GLD) on the Ghana Stock Exchange through a licensed broker. Each unit is approximately 1/100th of an ounce of gold bullion. Tokenised gold is also in development and could be available soon .
2. What is the NewGold ETF?
It is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the gold spot price. Each unit is backed by physical gold held with a secure custodian. It is listed on the GSE and can be bought through any licensed dealing member .
3. How do I buy the NewGold ETF?
Open a brokerage account with a licensed GSE broker, then place a buy order for GLD in standard board lots during normal market hours. Settlement follows the GSE’s standard arrangements .
4. How much does it cost to invest in the NewGold ETF?
The ETF has an annual sales charge of 0.300%. Standard brokerage fees also apply when you buy or sell .
5. What is tokenised gold?
Tokenised gold is a digital asset backed by physical gold. The SEC and GoldBod are piloting a framework where GoldBod holds the physical gold and issues digital tokens representing ownership. Investments could start from as little as GH¢15 .
6. When will tokenised gold be available in Ghana?
The pilot began in March 2026 and will run for 12 months. Public rollout will depend on the SEC finalising its regulatory framework .
7. Can I use tokenised gold as loan collateral?
The SEC has hinted that this could be possible once the framework is in place. Holders of gold tokens could eventually collateralise their digital holdings to secure bank financing .
8. Is the NewGold ETF safe?
The ETF is backed by physical gold held with a secure custodian. However, like all investments, its value can go down as well as up. It is regulated and listed on the GSE
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
