The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has explained that Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah’s decision to nominate the Ministry’s Chief Director, Marcus Haligah, to represent him on the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) was an administrative arrangement necessitated by his demanding schedule.
The Ministry, in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29 and signed by Zambaga Rufai Saminu of its Communications Directorate, said reports that Mr Armah-Kofi Buah had resigned from the GoldBod Board were false.
It said the Minister initially served personally on the Board but in January 2026 nominated Mr Haligah to represent him because his responsibilities across two ministries made it difficult for him to attend GoldBod meetings and engagements regularly.
“The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the reports are false and do not reflect the facts,” the statement said.
“Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has not resigned from GoldBod, nor has there been any disagreement between him and the Ghana Gold Board.”
According to the Ministry, the nomination of the Chief Director was an appropriate institutional arrangement intended to ensure continued representation on the GoldBod Board despite the Minister’s demanding schedule.
The Ministry said recent clarification from GoldBod also confirmed that the Minister’s change in representation was not linked to any disagreement, conflict or dissatisfaction with the institution.
It further pointed to ongoing collaboration between the Ministry and GoldBod in several areas of the mining sector.
These include an agreement between the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) and GoldBod to intensify mineral exploration, as well as collaboration between the Responsible Cooperative Mining (rCOMSDEP) programme and GoldBod on responsible mining.
The Forestry Commission is also working with GoldBod on land reclamation, while GoldBod has supported the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAIMOS) with vehicles to strengthen collaboration in the mining sector.
The Ministry said Mr Armah-Kofi Buah remained committed to efforts to strengthen Ghana’s gold sector, increase local value retention, promote responsible mining and ensure that the country’s mineral resources contribute meaningfully to national development.
It urged the public and media organisations to rely on official communications from the Ministry and GoldBod on matters concerning the governance and operations of the institution.
