In the wake of the Lithium mining deal, Professor Ransford Gyampo, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to resist the potential exploitation of the nation’s lithium resources by foreign entities.
The government recently granted a fifteen-year Mining Lease to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, for the extraction of lithium in Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.
However, concerns have been raised about the agreement’s fairness and transparency. The Institute of Energy Security (IES) expressed dissatisfaction, citing the government’s inability to compare the agreement with international standards.
Nana Amoasi VII, the Executive Director for the Institute of Energy Security, voiced concerns on GHOne TV’s State Affairs, emphasizing the lack of involvement of key stakeholders in the sector, making it unfavorable to Civil Society Organizations.
Responding to the criticism, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources highlighted enhanced terms in the lease designed to ensure national benefit.
Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor asserted that the agreement, differing from the standard Mining Lease, incorporated terms agreed upon with the company based on Cabinet-approved policies.
Professor Gyampo, through a series of Facebook posts, criticized the mining agreement for allocating 87% to the foreign company and only 13% to Ghana. He questioned the logic behind such an unequal distribution, challenging whether Ghanaian investors could secure a similar deal in Australia.
In his posts, Professor Gyampo thanked local chiefs for insightful consultations and expressed concerns about the Minerals Commission’s role in potentially facilitating the exploitation of natural resources.
He called on Members of Parliament to act in the national interest, warning against lobbying and bribery. Gyampo also urged President Akufo Addo to amend colonial legal regimes, emphasizing the need for genuine nationalism and patriotism in dealing with the Lithium deal.
Asserting that Ghanaians won’t allow their lithium to be sold off at a fraction of its worth, Professor Gyampo called for a collective stand against what he deemed unpatriotic actions by government agencies and foreign entities.
