DUBAI, UAE — The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board today delivered a sharp call for urgent reform at the Kimberley Process Ministerial Meeting, arguing that the definition of “conflict diamonds” must be expanded to address modern forms of exploitation and exclusion experienced by diamond communities. Speaking on behalf of the Republic of Ghana in Dubai, the CEO warned that while the Kimberley Process (KP) was a historic achievement, its relevance is diminishing as reforms have stalled despite the fast-shifting landscape of the global diamond trade.
“Today, diamond communities may not hear gunfire, but they feel the violence of exploitation, dispossession and exclusion,” the Ghanaian representative stated, emphasizing that conflict is no longer confined to rebel armies. Ghana acknowledged the legitimacy of all proposals currently before the body to redefine “conflict diamonds,” but stressed that a shared desire for change must now translate into decisive action.
The nation’s representative asserted that while consensus is at the heart of the KP, it must serve as “a path to progress and not a recipe for paralysis.” Ghana urged all participants to focus on areas of convergence to pursue solutions that both protect vulnerable populations and safeguard legitimate trade. The final plea was for participants to not let the “quest for perfection become the enemy of meaningful incremental reform,” and to instead choose renewal over stagnation to strengthen the KP’s credibility and moral authority.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
