No benefits for Ghana in revised Lithium agreement – minority

The Minority Caucus has expressed serious concerns regarding Ghana’s Barari DV lithium agreement, characterising the existing framework as a lost opportunity to obtain greater advantages from the nation’s developing green minerals sector.

During a press conference, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, stated that Ghana’s actual benefit under the amended agreement remains at a mere 5 percent, showing no enhancement from the previously suggested arrangement.

“Lithium is Ghana’s first green mineral and will set the benchmark for future critical mineral agreements. Weak deals now risk setting a poor precedent for the country,” he remarked.

The Minority also condemned the consultation process, pointing out that contributions from civil society, traditional leaders, and mining communities were predominantly overlooked in the final framework.

Emphasising the inconsistency in policy positions, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong highlighted that while the NDC had previously opposed a 10 per cent deal during the last administration, it now supports a lower 5 per cent arrangement under the same legal framework.

“This is not policy coherence but policy regression,” he asserted.

The Minority has called upon the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to renegotiate the lithium framework to ensure enhanced value for Ghana and to establish royalty regulations that are transparent, data-driven, and inclusive.