In a surprising turn of events, the Board of Directors of Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd has issued a formal statement distancing itself from public commentary made by Bright Simons on the company’s ongoing dispute with Engineers & Planners (E&P) over the Black Volta Gold Project.

The statement, signed and released on Saturday, is the most unambiguous indication that Azumah’s leadership is keen to separate its official position from what it describes as “personal opinion” being projected into the national conversation.

“Mr. Bright Simons does not represent, act on behalf of, or speak for the Shareholders or Directors of Azumah Resources Ghana in any capacity,” the company said in the disclaimer. “His public commentary constitutes his personal opinion and should not be construed, implied, or interpreted as reflective of the official position of Azumah Resources or its Shareholders.”

This public clarification follows a series of obvious posts and interviews by Bright Simons, who has publicly criticised the agreement between Azumah and E&P and raised questions about the role of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) in the transaction.

But Azumah’s official position is now clear: negotiations with E&P are ongoing and being conducted “in good faith and within the framework of applicable laws and commercial norms,” with regulatory and ministerial oversight.

The company’s leadership also used the statement to urge the public, media, and civil society to exercise discretion in their commentary, warning that “speculative or misleading reportage” could disrupt the current delicate resolution process.

“We respectfully call upon all media houses, analysts, commentators, and third parties to refrain from distortions that could prejudice the dialogue underway,” the Board urged.

In what may be seen as a subtle rebuke of Simons’ narrative, Azumah also clarified its engagement with EBID.

The statement confirmed that Azumah and E&P jointly visited EBID’s Lomé office in 2023, where the bank expressed indicative interest in supporting the transaction, pending its internal credit assessment.

“Any extrapolations beyond this context are both inappropriate and unauthorised,” the company emphasised, suggesting that EBID’s name had been inappropriately invoked in media discussions.

Azumah concluded its statement by reiterating its commitment to a professional and transparent resolution that aligns with Ghana’s national interest and development agenda.

With this move, Azumah appears to be reclaiming control of the narrative and reinforcing the need for all parties — including critics — to let the legal and regulatory processes take their course.