Parliament has ratified new lithium mining agreement between Ghana and Barari DV which introduces a sliding scale royalty regime for maximum benefit of twelve percent based on corresponding market prices.
The House approved the agreement on Thursday, March 19, 2026 despite opposition from the Minority members in Parliament.
Announcing the terms of the agreement in Parliament on Thursday, March 19, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said the country stands to benefit significantly from the revised deal which will generate royalties based on international prices.
He explained that under the newly enacted sliding-scale legislation, Ghana will earn higher royalties when market prices are strong.
“In the current dispensation, and given the global market price of lithium, Ghana will get 12 percent royalties due to the sliding scale legislation that has matured into law,” he stated.
The revised deal also introduces 1% community development fund. The tenure of the mining lease is 15 years which is renewable in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703).
On December 19, 2025, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah pursuant to article 268 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 5(4) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), presented to Parliament the Mining Lease Agreement between the Government represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Barari DV Ghana Limited for the Mining of Lithium and other Minerals at Mankessim (42.63 km2) in the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.
Subsequently, the Agreement was referred to the Committee on Lands and Natural Resources for consideration and report pursuant to the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committee met and considered the Agreement with the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana and officials from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The Committee also wrote to and received a written response from the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) in relation to the Agreement.
However, the Minority opposed the passage of the revised Ghana-Barari DV lithium deal.
Addressing lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday, March 19, the Effutu MP said the Lands Minister rejected the concerns of the Minority in drafting the agrrement.
“We, the 87 Minority, vote en bloc against this [lithium] agreement to the extent that the Lands Minister did not carry our concerns on board and insist on carrying the report in its current form and shape,” he stated.
Afenyo-Markin noted that the Minority members are not prepared to endorse the lithium agreement.
