Member of Parliament (MP) for Pru East constituency, Dr Kwabena Donkor says the 15-year mining lease granted to Barari DV Ghana Limited will benefit the nation if effectively managed.

According to him, the most important thing the nation should look at is the mining of green minerals holistically.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, December 8, the Pru East MP stated that he would prefer the nation gets a law that either comes under a Legislative Instrument – specific to green minerals or amend the existing mining and minerals law to make provision for green minerals.

“Very little emphasis is being placed on the by-product in the public space, the three major by-products, and the impact on our industralisation,” he added.

The National Democratic Congress MP maintained that these by-products only address a concern.

Dr Donkor stressed that the discussion of the lithium deal “if properly managed on industralisation and manufacturing, the downstream effect will help this country.”

Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor says that the mining deal granted to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited is in the best interest of the country.

According to him, the deal will ensure that Ghanaians fully benefit from the nation's natural resources.

In a press statement issued by the Lands Ministry on Friday, October 27, the Minister said he would not undertake any transaction or agreement that does not have the national interest and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people at heart.

"The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to a statement issued by the Minority in Parliament and some concerns raised by a section of the public in respect of the mining lease granted to Barari DV Ltd (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) for the exploitation of lithium at the Ewoyaa concession."

"The Ministry welcomes the public interest and intense scrutiny of transactions for the exploitation and management of the natural resources of our country, as this is the best way of ensuring that these minerals inure to the benefit of the Ghanaian people."

The Minister in the statement also assured that all the laws concerning such agreements will be followed throughout.

Background

Ghana has granted a 15-year mining lease to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, to commence the construction and mining of lithium at Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.

The lease incorporates new and enhanced terms intended to ensure that the country benefits, optimally, from this mineral. This includes an increase in royalty rate, state and Ghanaian participation, as well as value addition to the mineral mined.

The granting of the mining lease follows the completion of prospecting and feasibility studies by the company, as well as a series of negotiations between the Government and the Company.

The lease covers an area of approximately 42.63 square kilometres and grants the company the exclusive right to work and produce lithium and associated minerals in the area, in accordance with the mining laws of the country.

Lithium is one of the main minerals used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which is being promoted as a substitute for fossil fuels, as the world continues to battle with climate change.