The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has withdrawn its proposal to acquire about three acres of land belonging to the Department of Parks and Gardens at Cantonments, Accra, for the construction of its permanent headquarters.
The decision follows public criticism of the proposed arrangement, which would have seen GoldBod take over the state-owned land in exchange for constructing a new administrative headquarters and other facilities for Parks and Gardens.
In a letter dated September 4, 2026, GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Gyamfi, formally informed the Director-General of the Department of Parks and Gardens that the proposal had been withdrawn.
“We wish to formally withdraw the said proposal forthwith. Accordingly, the proposal contained in our letter of August 20, 2026 should be considered withdrawn, and the matter closed,” Mr Gyamfi stated.
The initial proposal, submitted on August 20, requested the allocation of approximately three acres of Parks and Gardens land at Cantonments for the development of a permanent GoldBod headquarters.
GoldBod had argued that it needed a purpose-built facility to accommodate its growing administrative, technical, commercial, regulatory and operational functions.
Under the proposed arrangement, GoldBod would have financed and constructed a new administrative office for Parks and Gardens, alongside logistical and other ancillary facilities to be agreed upon by both institutions.
The proposal was framed as a mutually beneficial arrangement that would enable both institutions to secure improved infrastructure while putting the land to what GoldBod described as strategic institutional use.
However, the proposal triggered public scrutiny, particularly over the proposed use of land belonging to Parks and Gardens for the headquarters of another public institution.
GoldBod has now abandoned the arrangement following the backlash.
In his September 4 letter, Mr Gyamfi expressed appreciation to the Department of Parks and Gardens for its cooperation during discussions on the proposed transaction.
“Please accept the assurances of our highest consideration,” he added.
