Fellow Ghanaians,

There is a very simple test of seriousness in public life — when a country discovers something the whole world wants, do its leaders sell the resource for the benefit of all, or sell the country for the benefit of a few? This week, as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources presented a revised lithium agreement to Parliament, that question became more urgent than ever. Lithium is not just another mineral. It is now the fuel of the modern world — powering electric cars, phones, and renewable energy systems. How Ghana handles this resource will determine whether we use it to power our development, or repeat the same old story of lost opportunities and squandered wealth.

The original lithium deal signed in 2023 attracted huge controversy. Many said it was rushed, poorly negotiated, and too generous to foreign investors. There were serious concerns about ownership, transparency, and whether Ghana was getting value for money. The deal was also criticised for not giving enough attention to the environment or to local communities, who would bear the brunt of the mining. In short, it was yet another example of Ghana signing away its future for short-term gain.

Now, the new government says it has renegotiated the deal to secure better terms. It insists that Ghana will benefit more this time and that all concerns have been addressed. But opposition MPs and several civil society organisations are not convinced. They argue that the government must show the exact details of what has changed, who owns what, and how the revised terms guarantee fair returns to Ghanaians. These are legitimate demands. A resource as strategic as lithium cannot be handled in secrecy. Parliament must insist that the full agreement is published for all Ghanaians to see.

There are some basic things Parliament must demand before approving this deal. First, there must be complete transparency on ownership — every Ghanaian has the right to know exactly who the real owners of the companies involved are. No shadowy shareholders, no hidden hands behind local fronts. Second, the state must have a stronger share in the project — a meaningful equity stake that guarantees that when lithium prices rise, Ghana gains too. Third, royalties must not be fixed at a low rate forever. They must rise when the global price rises, so that we do not shortchange ourselves when the world profits. And fourth, there must be strict environmental protections and restoration plans before the first shovel hits the ground.

We cannot have a repeat of what happened in our gold sector, where for over a century, we’ve been digging out billions of dollars’ worth of gold, yet mining communities remain poor, their rivers polluted, and their lands destroyed. Galamsey is only one side of the tragedy — the other is that even legal, large-scale mining has often left our people no better off. If we treat lithium like gold, then years from now, we’ll still be asking the same question: what did Ghana get out of it all?

This time, we must insist on local processing. Exporting raw ore must be a thing of the past. Ghana must not just dig and ship — we must add value here, build factories, create jobs, and train our youth to work in the green economy. A lithium refinery or battery plant in Ghana will create hundreds of jobs and ensure that the benefits stay here. That is how countries grow wealth — not by selling the raw material, but by owning the process.

Environmental protection must also be at the centre of the deal, not an afterthought. The company must be made to pay into a restoration fund from the very beginning, so that if the land and water are damaged, there’s already money to fix it. Independent monitors, not company-paid consultants, must supervise their work. No company should be allowed to mine near forest reserves or water bodies without rigorous scientific proof that the environment will be safe. If they fail to meet these standards, they must lose their license, plain and simple.

We must also think about the volatility of lithium prices. They can rise or fall dramatically. The contract must protect Ghana from these swings. When prices soar, we must benefit more. When they fall, we must have a safety net to prevent the project from collapsing. The state cannot afford to tie itself to a bad deal that only works when times are good.

Parliament must not rush this. This is not just another agreement to be passed quietly on a Friday afternoon. This is one of the most consequential decisions of our time. Every clause, every percentage, every promise must be scrutinised. The minister, the mining company, independent experts, and representatives of affected communities must all appear before Parliament to answer questions openly. We cannot afford secrecy. Transparency is the best protection against corruption.

There is also the issue of social responsibility. The mining company must commit to concrete projects that will change the lives of local people — roads, schools, clinics, and potable water. These must not be empty pledges but legally binding obligations that can be enforced. The communities that bear the cost of extraction must also share in the benefits.

And finally, Parliament must not see this as a partisan issue. Whether you are NDC or NPP, you are first and foremost a Ghanaian. When gold was mismanaged, we all suffered. When oil was mismanaged, we all paid the price. Let’s not make the same mistake with lithium. This is our chance to do things differently — to put Ghana first.

Our leaders must remember that every time we sign a bad deal, we are not cheating foreigners — we are cheating our children. If we hand over this resource cheaply, future generations will inherit nothing but holes in the ground and polluted rivers.

Fellow Ghanaians, this is a moment of truth. The new lithium deal must not be a quick political win. It must be a lasting national legacy. Parliament must prove that it can rise above partisanship and protect the national interest. If the deal is good, let it be shown to all. If it is bad, reject it. History will remember this moment — and it will remember who stood for Ghana, and who did not.

Good morning, Fellow Ghanaians.