Charles Paa Grant, Secretary to the Chief of Krampakrom, has formally called upon the government to suspend the proposed 5% lithium royalty rate and initiate comprehensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders.
Mr. Grant emphasized that failure to suspend the process and engage widely could have adverse consequences for the nation.
He expressed strong concern that the government did not consult the community on its decision to renegotiate the deal, describing the lack of consultation as regrettable.
Speaking to the media, he stressed that as a community directly affected by the Lithium agreement, they should have been properly engaged throughout the negotiation process.
He voiced disappointment with the engagement process, alleging that authorities had already finalized their decision regarding the agreement and were merely conducting a superficial meeting to fulfill a formality.
In related developments, the Chairman of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Collins Dauda, stated that the earlier 10 per cent royalty agreement signed by the Akufo-Addo administration with Barari DV Ghana Limited for lithium mining was inconsistent with Ghana’s existing legal framework.
He noted that the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2010, stipulates a fixed royalty rate of 5 per cent for mining companies, rendering the 10 per cent provision in the prior agreement legally non-compliant.
Mr. Dauda’s remarks followed the presentation of a revised lithium mining agreement by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to Parliament, which now incorporates the legally mandated 5 per cent royalty rate.
Reacting to the developments, Charles Paa Grant articulated the community’s distress, stating:
“We feel bad about it because, as we are directly being affected, we should have been informed beforehand so that at least we could have some internal discussion within our communities. Instead, we are called suddenly and told this is what is going to happen, and then asked to bring out our suggestions. How are we expected to provide meaningful input on something we were not informed about previously? We feel very bad about this. It suggests that they want us to present suggestions we are not prepared for, allowing them to gain an advantage.”
Mr. Grant further confirmed that the government has not provided them with any detailed information about the deal nor has it engaged them to genuinely solicit their views on the matter.
“To cut to the chase, I think we should stick to the 10% because they haven’t specified whether it will be by next year or within a few years. If prices increase, they may reverse it or raise it to any amount. But they are insisting on 5%, which is short-changing,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
