The Minority in Parliament has called for the resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, citing what it describes as an inconsistent and contradictory handling of the lithium mining agreement that was recently laid before Parliament and later withdrawn.
In a strongly worded statement, the Minority said it had taken serious note of the Minister’s public assurances to Parliament and the Ghanaian people that the lithium agreement met all legal, technical, and procedural requirements.
According to the Minority, the subsequent withdrawal of the agreement raises serious concerns about ministerial responsibility, credibility, and standards of governance.
“This matter is not about punishment; it is about responsibility,” the Minority stated. It argued that when a minister provides firm and unequivocal assurances to Parliament, only for those assurances to later prove inaccurate, accountability must follow.
The Minority stressed that in a democratic system, ministers bear personal responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of information presented to Parliament, as the integrity of parliamentary oversight depends on it.
The statement recalled that the Minister had forcefully defended the agreement, dismissed concerns raised by the Minority and civil society organisations, and overseen its presentation to Parliament for ratification.
However, the agreement was later withdrawn, with explanations centring on inadequate consultation and the need for further review.
The Minority described this as a direct contradiction of earlier assurances and an implicit admission that Parliament had been asked to act on incomplete information.
While acknowledging the importance of stakeholder consultation, the Minority emphasised that such engagement must occur before an agreement is laid before Parliament, not after it has been withdrawn amid public pressure.
It said it was unacceptable for the Minister to assure Parliament that consultations had been concluded, only to later cite insufficient consultation as the basis for reversing course.
The Minority further highlighted the strategic importance of lithium to Ghana’s industrialisation agenda, energy transition, youth employment, environmental protection, and intergenerational equity.
According to the group, the handling of the agreement has undermined public confidence, weakened Ghana’s negotiating position, and exposed Parliament to avoidable embarrassment.
“In any functioning democracy, a sector minister who presides over such contradictions on a matter of national importance must take responsibility,” the statement said.
The Minority concluded that the honourable course of action would be for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to resign or be relieved of his position in the interest of accountability, good governance, and restoring public trust in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
The Minority reaffirmed its commitment to defending the national interest and ensuring that Ghana’s strategic resources are managed in a way that delivers real and lasting value to the Ghanaian people, both now and for future generations. It also pledged to continue exercising its constitutional oversight mandate without fear or favour.
