Majority MPs push for higher Lithium royalties

Members of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee in Parliament are calling for an amendment to the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2010 to allow Ghana to charge higher royalties on lithium and other minerals.

Their demand follows concerns that the current law limits royalties to five per cent, even though many believe the country should be earning far more.

Committee Chair Collins Dauda explained at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, that the law in its current form forces the government to accept the five per cent rate outlined in the new agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited.

He said attempts to amend the law in the past did not succeed and clarified that claims that the previous Parliament rejected the agreement are untrue. “The report was never presented to Parliament for debate or approval,” he said.

Mr Dauda added that the current agreement does not specify a royalty figure because the law already sets the rate at five per cent.

He noted that revenue from a ten per cent rate would far exceed what the country earns under the existing arrangement.

The committee believes the law must be updated to give the Minister authority to propose a higher rate, which Parliament can then approve.

He further stated that a revised law should ensure all mining companies pay the same or similar royalties to prevent inconsistencies across the sector.

To ensure broad consultation, the committee has invited the public and civil society to submit their views on the lithium agreement, stressing that their contributions will guide the final decision.

Many observers see the committee’s stance as a push for better value from Ghana’s natural resources in an era of rising global demand for lithium.