The lithium mining agreement between the government of Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, has encountered multiple obstacles in Parliament.
The government granted Barari DV Ghana Limited a 15-year mining lease to initiate construction and lithium mining at Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region. This lease includes provisions to ensure optimal benefits for the country, such as a higher royalty rate, state and Ghanaian participation, and value addition to the mined lithium.
However, the agreement, signed last year, must receive parliamentary approval to take effect.
Last week, an attempt to submit the agreement to Parliament was blocked by the Minority due to a lack of quorum. Another attempt to present the agreement on Monday, July 15, faced a similar fate.
Tamale Central MP, Murtala Ibrahim Mohammed, highlighted the quorum issue, citing Order 64 of Parliament’s Standing Orders. He criticized NPP MPs for their absence, accusing them of prioritizing campaigning over their legislative duties.
“Mr Speaker, last two weeks and last week, I raised this issue. They are in our constituency campaigning, yet they expect us to execute their business for them… We could have also done that, left our legislative responsibility, but we have decided to act responsibly for the good of this country,” Mr. Mohammed said.
Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, pointed out that with only two weeks left before the House goes on break, there is no need to rush the lithium mining agreement. He stressed the importance of further consultation and stakeholder engagement.
In defense, Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh claimed his side had not violated any Standing Orders and accused the Minority of using the quorum issue to block the agreement, calling it “most unfair.”
In response, the Speaker referred to Order 64 of Parliament’s Standing Orders and suspended the House for an hour. After a headcount of 64, the House was adjourned.