Lithium Deal Put Ghana First Dr Otchere Ankrah Tells Govt

Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance lecturer at Central University, has waded into discussions on the lithium agreement between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ltd.

Barari DV Ltd is a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd which has been granted a lease to mine Ghana’s lithium, however not without the country benefiting from the deal.

According to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the nation stands to benefit 10% of royalties which, to him, is one of the highest in the country’s mineral exploration history.

“This lease differs from all previous mining leases in many respects. It is the first time in the history of our country that we have successfully negotiated for 10 percent royalties for any mineral, which is one of the highest for exploitation of any mineral across the globe,” he said at a Meet-the-Press series organized by the Ministry of Information.

Additionally, “we have already secured 19 percent state participation in this mining organization with the requirement to scale it up to a minimum of Ghanaian participation through listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange for shares to be made available to Ghanaians and Ghanaian entities", the Minister expatiated.

However, the deal has been met with a barrage of criticisms with some people describing it as not the best for Ghanaians.

Tackling this lithium agreement during Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” programme Thursday morning, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah kept his message brief.

“I will only want to hope that as we persist to hold discussions, Ghana firsthellip;let’s think about the country’s development. If there was a time that we got 5 percent and today we can get 30 percent, why not? Let’s negotiate for as much as will ease us”, he appealed to government.

Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/