Parliament has approved a Mining Lease Agreement between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Barari DV Ghana Limited for the extraction of lithium and other minerals at Ewoyaa in the Mfantsiman Municipality of the Central Region.
The agreement, which covers a concession area of 42.63 square kilometres, was presented to the House by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in accordance with Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 5(4) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
Following its presentation, the Speaker referred the agreement to the Committee on Lands and Natural Resources for detailed consideration and reporting.
As part of its review, the Committee engaged the Deputy Minister, Yusif Sulemana, along with officials from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). It also received input from the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
The Committee reported that most of the concerns previously raised about the agreement had been addressed. However, it also noted proposals advocating for Ghana to adopt a state-led approach to lithium development, rather than relying on foreign concessions under royalty-based arrangements.
Describing the suggestion as a potential shift in Ghana’s mineral exploitation policy, the Committee drew the Ministry’s attention to the need for possible reforms in the future.
Despite recommending approval of the agreement, the Minority Caucus, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, opposed the motion to adopt the Committee’s report.
Lithium, a critical mineral used in the production of batteries, glass, and aluminium, is increasingly vital to the global transition toward green energy. Demand is expected to surge significantly, driven by the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
Analysts project that by 2030, global demand could exceed 2.4 million metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, with the lithium-ion battery market surpassing $400 billion in value.
The approval of the Ewoyaa concession marks Ghana’s entry into the global lithium market, positioning the country to capitalise on rising demand for green minerals, while also sparking debate over ownership structures, policy direction, and long-term economic benefits.
