The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has abandoned its proposal to acquire about three acres of land belonging to the Department of Parks and Gardens at Cantonments in Accra for the construction of its permanent headquarters.

The decision comes after the proposal triggered significant public criticism over plans for GoldBod to obtain the land through an arrangement involving the construction of new facilities for Parks and Gardens.

In a letter dated Friday, September 4, 2026, GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Gyamfi, formally communicated the withdrawal to the Director-General of the Department of Parks and Gardens.

Mr Gyamfi said the proposal submitted in an earlier letter dated August 20 should no longer be considered.

“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 Accordingly, the proposal contained in our letter of August 20, 2026 should be considered withdrawn, and the matter closed,” he stated.

GoldBod had initially requested approximately three acres of the Cantonments property to develop a purpose-built headquarters to support its growing administrative, technical, commercial, regulatory and operational activities.

As part of the proposed arrangement, GoldBod offered to finance and construct a new administrative office complex for Parks and Gardens, alongside logistical and other supporting facilities to be agreed upon by both institutions.

The proposal was presented as a mutually beneficial arrangement that would provide both institutions with improved infrastructure while putting the land to what GoldBod described as strategic institutional use.

However, the plan attracted public opposition, particularly over concerns about the use of land belonging to Parks and Gardens, leading to GoldBod’s decision to discontinue the arrangement.

In its latest correspondence, Mr Gyamfi thanked the Department of Parks and Gardens for its cooperation and engagement during discussions on the proposal.

The withdrawal effectively brings the proposed land arrangement between GoldBod and Parks and Gardens to an end.