World · Africa · 2 hrs ago
Rising gold prices linked to faster forest loss in Ghana
Two defenders of West African forests, Daryl Bosu and Silas Siakor, are visiting Switzerland this week.
They are drawing attention to forest loss in Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer and a major gold exporter to Switzerland.
Switzerland refines large quantities of gold.
The price of an ounce rose from $2,500 in October 2024 to more than $4,100, while gold mining and forest loss in Ghana have moved in a similar direction.
Ghana lost 350 square kilometres of forest in 2025, compared with an average of less than 150 square kilometres a year over the previous decade.
The defenders are calling on Switzerland to respond, but no specific action or next step is described.
Ghana lost 350 square kilometres of forest in 2025, according to Hansen Global Forest Change.
That was more than twice the average annual forest loss of less than 150 square kilometres over the previous 10 years.
The report highlights a similar rise in gold prices and forest loss in Ghana.
The price of an ounce of gold rose from $2,500 in October 2024 to more than $4,100.
Forest defenders Daryl Bosu and Silas Siakor travelled to Switzerland to draw attention to the issue.
- Who
- Forest defenders Daryl Bosu and Silas Siakor are raising the issue in Switzerland.
- What
- Ghana lost 350 square kilometres of forest in 2025 as gold prices rose.
- When
- The forest loss was in 2025. The article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Ghana; Bosu and Siakor were visiting Switzerland.
- Why
- The article points to a similar evolution in gold prices and forest loss, but does not establish a cause.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An ounce of gold was valued at $2,500.
Ghana lost 350 square kilometres of forest, according to Hansen Global Forest Change.
Le Temps reported that Daryl Bosu and Silas Siakor were visiting Switzerland that week.
- Gold price in October 2024
- $2,500 per ounce
- Gold price reported in October 2026
- More than $4,100 per ounce
- Ghana forest loss in 2025
- 350 square kilometres
- Average annual Ghana forest loss in the previous 10 years
- Less than 150 square kilometres
- Forest defenders visiting Switzerland
- Daryl Bosu and Silas Siakor
Sources
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