The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor says Government is committed to retaining the full value of the country’s lithium and other green minerals here in Ghana.
He said the real value of these minerals lie in their value addition, and Government is developing a comprehensive policy to ensure that Ghanaians benefit from these resources.
The Minister was speaking in Parliament where he delivered, on behalf of Government, a Policy Statement on the Development of the Ghana’s Green Minerals.
These are the minerals needed to support the transition from petrol and diesel dependent engines, to clean-energy technologies, aimed at reducing carbon emissions to net zero.
They include minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, aluminium, graphite, rare earth elements (REE), iron, copper, and phosphate.
According to experts, reducing fossil fuel emissions, one of the drivers of climate change, requires the production of lithium-ion-batteries to power electric vehicles.
With many more countries committing to this green transition, it is estimated that by the year 2040, over 65% of vehicles which would be sold across the world would be electric vehicles, and this will drive the demand for lithium and the other green minerals.
Presenting the policy Statement, Mr. Jinapor said Ghana is endowed with most of these green minerals, which Government is working to develop. Touching specifically on lithium, one of the main minerals required for the green transition, the Minister said, geological investigations show significant deposits in Cape Coast, Kumasi, Sunyani, Bole and Wa.
He said exploration activities in Ewoyaa in the Central Region shows an inferred and indicated total mineral resource estimate of 30.1 million tonnes, containing approximately 379,000 tonnes of lithium.
Mr. Jinapor said there are also occurrences of cobalt, nickel, copper, lead, zinc and chromium in Buem in the Oti Region, and graphite in Kambale in the Upper West Region.
He said Government will work to ensure that all these minerals, benefit the people of Ghana while contributing to climate action.
“Government’s policy for the development of these minerals is to pursue a path that fosters optimal socio-economic development, through effectively and efficiently exploiting and managing Ghana’s green minerals, and contributing positively to dealing with the climate change phenomena. …… Ultimately, our non-negotiable policy is to retain the full value chain of the minerals of the future in our country,” the Minister noted,
He called on investors, both domestic and international, to partner with Government to develop this industry based on this policy. He said Government is still examining the governance, legislative and regulatory architecture that will advance Government’s policy, and the needed reforms will be adopted once consultations are concluded.
