By Ashiadey Dotse
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, has announced that the government has withdrawn the revised lithium mining agreement from Parliament to allow more consultations with stakeholders.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Mr. Sulemana said the withdrawal will give the ministry time to engage “very relevant stakeholders” before the deal is brought back to the House for approval.
The agreement, presented earlier by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, seeks to allow the mining of lithium and other minerals at Mankessim in the Central Region. It was revised after Barari DV Ghana Limited, the company involved, requested a review following a sharp drop in global lithium prices.
Global prices reportedly fell from about $3,000 per tonne to around $630, affecting the viability of lithium projects worldwide. The government, in response, renegotiated the royalty terms, reducing the rate from 10 percent to 5 percent, with the intention of restoring it to 10 percent when prices recover.
The revised deal has faced criticism from the Minority. Former Lands Minister and Damongo MP, Samuel Abu Jinapor, argued that the new agreement is no different from the previous one and called for its rejection. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also accused the government of inconsistency.
Despite the concerns, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga urged Parliament to allow relevant committees to study the document and make recommendations. Speaker Alban Bagbin later referred the matter to the appropriate committee for further scrutiny.
