The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Ghana has clarified that Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has not resigned from the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). Instead, he has stepped back from the board and appointed Marcus Haligah, the Chief Director of the Ministry, to represent him. This arrangement was made in January 2026 due to the Minister's multiple responsibilities at the time.
Minister Buah was simultaneously overseeing two ministries, making it impractical for him to regularly attend GoldBod Board meetings and engagements. The Ministry described the decision to nominate a senior official to fill his seat as a straightforward administrative measure. The Ministry also pointed out that GoldBod's governance framework allows members to designate representatives to serve on the Board in their stead.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources issued a statement on Tuesday, September 29, dismissing reports that Minister Buah had resigned from the GoldBod Board. The statement emphasized that the reports were false and did not reflect the facts. According to the Ministry, Minister Buah personally served on the GoldBod Board at the outset before nominating Haligah to step in on his behalf.
The decision to step back from the GoldBod Board was driven by scheduling pressures rather than any policy disagreement or falling out with the Board. The Ministry stressed that the arrangement was made to ensure continuity of representation on the Board. Minister Buah's responsibilities across two ministries required him to prioritize his engagements.
The issue of Minister Buah's representation on the GoldBod Board gained attention amid reports of his alleged resignation. Social media reports had suggested that the Minister resigned his position on the GoldBod Board, with some linking the move to tensions between Buah and the institution. However, the Ministry rejected those accounts outright.
In a related development, Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama announced that he "resigned" from the Board of Directors of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) roughly five months ago. Dr. Asiama clarified that he has not attended any GoldBod meetings since his resignation. His decision was made public on September 27, 2026.
The clarification from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources aims to set the record straight on Minister Buah's involvement with the GoldBod Board. The Ministry's statement emphasizes that the Minister's step back from the Board was a necessary administrative measure. Key points include:
Key points
- Minister Emmanuel Buah stepped back from the GoldBod Board due to multiple responsibilities.
- Marcus Haligah, Chief Director of the Ministry, was appointed to represent Minister Buah on the GoldBod Board.
- The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources denied reports of Minister Buah's resignation from the GoldBod Board.
