The government has presented the lithium mining agreement involving Barari DV Ghana Limited to Parliament for approval, following its earlier withdrawal of the deal to allow for additional consultations with key stakeholders.
The renewed submission has sparked fresh discussions around the proposed 5 per cent royalty rate, which critics say is lower than the 10 per cent rate agreed upon during the previous administration.
According to opponents of the agreement, the reduced royalty could limit Ghana’s capacity to fully benefit from the exploitation of its lithium resources.
Addressing the concerns, the government has indicated that measures are being taken to comprehensively review and reform the country’s mining royalty structure, with the goal of establishing a more equitable and sustainable system for managing mineral resources.
Meanwhile, former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, has raised questions about the equity of the royalty framework supporting the agreement between the state and Barari DV.
He argued that the current royalty ceiling has, over the years, worked to Ghana’s disadvantage, especially in the extraction of high-value minerals such as lithium.
Source: CNR
