Ghana Lithium Mining Deal: Government Withdraws New Agreement From Parliament Following Criticism
- The government has withdrawn its lithium mining agreement from Parliament after some recent criticism
- IMANI Africa, a think tank, noted that it presented a 25-page Policy Brief to the president on the agreement
- Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, was granted a 15-year mining lease in 2023
The government has withdrawn the controversial lithium agreement from Parliament to allow for broader consultations with key stakeholders.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, announced this development on December 10, 2025.
Source: Getty Images
Addressing the House, the Deputy Minister said the decision was influenced by concerns raised by civil society groups, industry experts, and legislators from both sides of the chamber.
"Listening to my colleagues from the other side, they have made my work very easy. They have given reasons why there’s a need for us to withdraw this agreement."
He explained that NGOs and prominent voices within the extractives sector had also urged the government to conduct further technical and stakeholder engagements before resubmitting the deal.
According to him, the move reflected the government’s willingness to demonstrate accountability and transparency in managing the country’s mineral resources.
"It is for that reason that the listening minister, the listening government, has decided that we will withdraw this agreement, do further work involving you, so that together we can move forward."
IMANI Africa, for example, has been critical and noted that it presented a 25-page Policy Brief to the president on the agreement.
Its president, Franklin Cudjoe, said the Lands and Minerals Committee of Parliament has invited it to deliberate further on getting Ghana a better deal.
"We thank the President, his sector minister and Chairman of the lands and minerals committee for this gesture. We thank other CSOs, influential people and ordinary Ghanaians who also urged caution with the agreement."
About Ghana's lithium mining agreement
In 2023, Ghana granted Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, a 15-year mining lease in an area covering 42.63 square kilometres, granting the company the exclusive right to produce lithium in the area.
The initial lithium agreement, intended to regulate Ghana’s emerging lithium industry, also faced heavy public scrutiny, with critics, including the current administration, arguing that the terms did not guarantee sufficient national benefit.
Source: Facebook
Parliament had always been expected to reconsider the refined agreement after the consultations and revisions.
Lithium is one of the main minerals used in producing lithium-ion batteries in electric cars.
The country seeks to position itself as a player in producing a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries.
Ghana discovered large lithium deposits in the Central, Ashanti, Western and Volta Regions in 2022.
House of Chiefs endorses lithium mining agreement
In 2024, YEN.com.gh reported that the Central Regional House of Chiefs had a previous lithium mining agreement.
The chiefs at the time noted that the deal for the resource was not perfect but believed it would benefit the country.
The Central Regional House of Chiefs President, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, spoke after consultation with the state.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
