The minority in parliament has called for the resignation of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, accusing the government of mishandling the lithium agreement and undermining transparency in Parliament.
Speaking at a press briefing marking one year of parliamentary scrutiny, the opposition through its leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the lithium agreement reintroduced to Parliament after the Mahama administration took office was in a worse state than an earlier version it had criticised while in opposition.
The minority questioned the government’s decision to withdraw the agreement only after sustained pressure from lawmakers and civil society groups, arguing that the move exposed weaknesses in consultation and policy coherence.
The opposition cited concerns over the reduction of royalties from 10% to 5% under the revised agreement, as well as what it described as gaps in transparency surrounding the deal. It said the minister had previously defended the agreement on the floor of Parliament before later withdrawing it for further consultation, a reversal the minority described as evidence of policy failure.
The minority noted that it would no longer allow what it called the routine use of emergency procedures to fast-track legislation without adequate scrutiny, accusing the majority of turning Parliament into a rubber-stamp institution. It cited the passage of recent laws, including the Gold Board legislation and energy-related levies, as examples of measures approved without sufficient debate.
In July 2025, policy analyst Bright Simons criticised the government’s move to amend the lease terms of the lithium project at Ewoyaa, operated by Atlantic Lithium, branding the proposal as potentially “economic treason.” Under the original agreement, Ghana was to receive a 10% royalty and a 13% carried interest. In a social media post, Simons questioned the rationale behind the revisions. “If 10% royalty and standard taxes were labelled ‘colonial’ by critics last year, what would 5% and tax waivers be called, economic treason?”
The opposition warned it would intensify scrutiny of government spending and contracts, particularly those linked to the 2026 budget and procurement processes, saying that it would closely monitor all documents submitted to the Public Procurement Authority and introduce motions where necessary to ensure accountability.
The minority also appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to allow broader debate and prioritise substance over procedural technicalities, arguing that repeated dismissals and delays of motions and questions had weakened parliamentary oversight.
Despite the sharp criticism, the opposition said it remained committed to constitutional processes and constructive engagement, insisting its actions were aimed at defending the public interest rather than obstructing government business. It pledged to continue holding ministers accountable for their stewardship while positioning itself for a return to power in 2028.
