Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI-Africa, has alleged that government officials may have misled the public about the prospects of refining Ghana’s lithium locally, claiming that Atlantic Lithium had already completed a study ruling out local processing.

He accused in a post on X, calling on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to “confirm or deny” the claims.

In his detailed thread, Mr Simons suggested that previous public assurances by successive Mining Ministers—that the Ewoyaa Lithium project could include local refining—may not reflect the true position of the company involved.

1. My Ghana People, join me in thanking a very bold & patriotic citizen for blowing a serious alarm.

2. It turns out that our Mining Ministers have all been playing us.

3. They have made it look like Atlantic Lithium is open to the possibility of refining lithium in Ghana.

4.… pic.twitter.com/mf9NfpIVft

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) December 20, 2025

According to him, government officials have projected the idea that Atlantic Lithium is open to establishing a refinery in Ghana and even included a requirement in the mining lease that the company conduct a scoping study on the feasibility of local processing.

However, he claims this impression is misleading.

“It is being suggested that it is all shakara. That we are being played,” he wrote.

“Atlantic has ALREADY done the scoping study. And concluded that refining is NOT viable. And told the government.”

Simons further alleged that the company reached this conclusion by understating the available lithium resource—an issue he hinted would be elaborated on later.

He said IMANI’s attempts to engage the sector ministry constructively, particularly in developing a fiscal model to strengthen Ghana’s negotiating position, have been unsuccessful.

“Despite all efforts by IMANI to engage policymakers… the Minister flatly refuses to engage in good faith,” he claimed.

His remarks come after the government has resubmitted the lithium mining agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited to Parliament for consideration, after initially withdrawing the deal to allow for further stakeholder consultations

Atlantic Lithium and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have yet to issue a public response to the claims.