After the strong Civil Society Advocacy around the country’s lithium deal, Parliament has finally withdrawn the proposed lithium mining agreement that was awaiting ratification.
This has effectively brought the legislative process to a halt. The dramatic turnaround follows renewed pressure for clarity, transparency, and stronger safeguards in Ghana’s emerging lithium sector.
The move gives lawmakers room to reassess the deal and opens the door for a fresh, more rigorous national conversation about how Ghana should manage its critical minerals in the era of the global energy transition.
It will be recalled that earlier, the Chairman of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament, Collins Dauda, indicated that the committee is not in a rush to ratify the deal, which has become a source of controversy.
IMANI’s High-Level Push Made Its Mark
It is emerging that the official withdrawal from the floor of parliament comes barely a week after IMANI Africa met with President John Dramani Mahama to present an independent, evidence-based assessment of the deal.
The think tank’s delegation, led by President Franklin Cudjoe, used the meeting to dissect the agreement’s fiscal terms, valuation assumptions, regulatory structure, and long-term implications for Ghana.
Following the engagement, the President requested IMANI’s full policy position in writing. IMANI delivered the comprehensive document on 8th December, outlining gaps in transparency, revenue-sharing, environmental protection, valuation accuracy, and oversight.
According to IMANI, Ghana cannot run its green minerals sector with the same weak governance approach that has cost the country billions in gold, oil, and bauxite.
A Reset Moment for Ghana’s Green Minerals Governance
The policy think tank remarks that the withdrawal represents a crucial chance for the country to re-evaluate not just one agreement, but the entire framework governing lithium and other green minerals.
The organisation warns that Ghana risks repeating old mistakes if deals are pushed through without clear valuation, strong environmental checks, transparent fiscal terms, and tight regulatory coordination.
This pause, they argue, gives Ghana the rare opportunity to set a new gold standard for its green minerals strategy, one that aligns with global best practices and secures long-term national value.
“The withdrawal of the lithium agreement from Parliament creates an important opportunity for reflection and policy recalibration. It allows space for improved institutional coordination and alignment with global best practices in the governance of green minerals, particularly as Ghana positions itself within the global energy transition,” IMANI indicated.
IMANI Meets Lands & Natural Resources Committee Today
The next critical step happens today, 11th December 2025. IMANI has revealed that it will appear before Parliament’s Committee on Lands and Natural Resources to walk lawmakers through its full policy position.
The meeting is expected to shape the direction of revisions to the lithium governance framework, including how Ghana values its resources, negotiates fiscal terms, and protects communities and the environment.
“11th December 2025, IMANI will meet with the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources to further engage on our Policy Position and discuss the way forward for Ghana’s lithium sector and the broader green minerals strategy,” the think tank has said.
A Win for Accountability and Public Interest
IMANI welcomes Parliament’s decision as a “deliberate, evidence-led step” toward better stewardship of Ghana’s natural resources.
The think tank says it remains committed to supporting national institutions with rigorous research and public interest advocacy.
