The government has withdrawn the revised lithium mining agreement to allow further consultations with key stakeholders after public uproar over 5% royalty rate.
Speaking on the decision in Parliament on Wednesday, December 10, Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Yusif Sulemana, explained, “Listening to my colleagues from the other side, they have made my work very easy. They have given reasons why there’s a need for us to withdraw this agreement. It is for that reason that the listening minister, the listening government, has decided that we will withdraw this agreement, do further work involving you, so that together we can move forward.”
He clarified that before resubmitting the agreement, the government had been convinced by NGOs and influential figures in the extractives industry to carry out additional technical and stakeholder engagements.
He claimed that the action shows the government’s readiness to manage the nation’s mineral riches with transparency and accountability.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah had earlier presented the lithium mining lease agreement between the government of Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited in Parliament.
The agreement was to allow for the mining of lithium and other rare earth minerals at Ewoyaa in the Central Region.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kinsford Bagbin, consequently referred it to the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament for consideration and report.
Unhappy with the laying of the agreement, the Minority Caucus argued that the terms of the agreement were similar to those in the earlier document first laid in the Eighth Parliament.
The lithium agreement was heavily criticised by the Minority and others who argued that the terms do not guarantee sufficient national benefit.
Parliament is expected to reconsider the refined agreement after the Ministry completes its consultations and revisions.
