Ghana has urged members of the Kimberley Process (KP) to revive stalled reforms and adopt a more responsive approach to emerging challenges in the global diamond trade.
Addressing the KP Ministerial Meeting in Dubai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi warned that although traditional armed conflict in diamond-producing regions has declined, communities continue to face exploitation, exclusion and structural vulnerabilities that fall outside the current scope of the Process.
The Kimberley Process, established in 2003 to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds, has faced mounting calls for reform as loopholes and outdated definitions create gaps in protection for mining communities.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, the continued inability of KP member states to agree on an expanded definition of “conflict diamonds” risks weakening the credibility of the scheme.
Ghana argued that while participants hold diverse views on how to update the definition, all proposals reflect a shared recognition that the diamond trade has changed significantly over the past two decades.
Sammy Gyamfi noted that consensus remains central to the KP’s decision-making, but cautioned that consensus must not become “a recipe for paralysis.”
Ghana urged delegates to prioritise areas of convergence and adopt incremental reforms that protect vulnerable populations while maintaining legitimate trade.
Ghana further stressed that the Kimberley Process cannot allow the pursuit of a perfect agreement to derail meaningful progress.
“Let history record that this meeting chose renewal over stagnation,” the Ghanaian representative said, adding that the country was willing to work with all parties to advance reforms.
The Dubai meeting brought together ministers, government delegations, civil society representatives and industry officials to discuss the state of the certification scheme and the future of global governance in the diamond sector.
Ghana, which has been active in KP reform discussions, is expected to continue pushing for measures that enhance transparency, community protection and responsible diamond production.
The Ministerial Meeting continues with further deliberations expected on proposed governance reforms and implementation challenges across member countries.