It appears that the long-awaited ratification of the country’s first lithium mining agreement is not happening any time soon, as parliament prepares to open a fresh round of public consultations before making a decision.
Signed in October 2023, the ratification of the agreement continues to face challenges after challenges both internal and external.
In a new development following the controversy surrounding the slashing of the royalty rate in the new agreement, the chairman of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Collins Dauda, says the Committee will not rush the ratification process despite growing public pressure and the mounting debate over the royalty rate.
He insists Parliament must take its time to fully understand public concerns and gather expert views before submitting the agreement to the House.
The Royalty Rate Debate
Collins Dauda acknowledges that many Ghanaians, including Members of Parliament, strongly prefer a 10% royalty for the lithium deal. But he stresses that the Committee does not have the authority to set that figure.
He admits that only the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources can propose a change through an amendment to the Minerals and Mining Act.
The chairman of the committee further adds that with the law currently pegging royalties at 5%, Parliament cannot legally approve 10% without a formal amendment.
“It is our wish that the minister present the amendment to the act so that the committee will take the amendment alongside the agreement. It is our wish that we are able to take the two simultaneously without creating a vacuum,” he stated.
Fresh Public Consultations Begin
To ensure transparency and broad participation, the committee of parliament will advertise the lithium agreement again and invite memoranda from the public, civil society organisations, industry experts, and researchers.
Dauda says the Committee is aware of the intense national interest in the deal and will not ignore any concerns.
This means that individuals, NGOs, academics, and CSOs can all submit their views, a process that could take weeks or months, depending on the level of interest.
“I am aware and I’ve read several views and positions on the little agreement which is before us. I wish to state that the committee is not in a hurry to pass without taking the views of the public on board,” he noted.
He continued, “So we will cause an advert or a publication to be made in the newspapers. It is our hope that interested persons, CSOs, NGOs, and people who are knowledgeable in this field will present memoranda to the committee. Besides that, the committee will invite some people who will think and help us to analyse the agreement before ratification.”
A Deal Stuck Between Expectation and Process
The lithium agreement was signed in October 2023 with expectations that it would quickly pave the way for Ghana to benefit from the global electric-vehicle value chain.
However, political transitions, parliamentary standoffs, royalty rate disagreements, legal constraints, and public opposition have collectively slowed progress.
Now, as Parliament opens the floor for yet another full cycle of public engagement, the ratification is set to be delayed once more, a move that may frustrate some but, according to Dauda, is necessary for a matter of national importance.
