The Minerals Commission (MC) says the agreement between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited to mine lithium in the Central Region was signed in the best interest of the country.
A statement issued by the Commission yesterday and signed by its Chief Executive, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, said commentators who are raising issues with the deal seem not to have read the agreement in its entirety.
The following is the full press statement;
The attention of the Minerals Commission (the “Commission”) has been drawn to comments and concerns by some members of the Ghanaian public regarding the mining lease between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited (the “company” or “Barari”).
This comes on the heels of the announcement by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor at a brief ceremony on 19 October 2023 when he signed the first mining lease for the exploitation of Lithium in Ghana and the publication of the lease on the website of the Commission.
For the avoidance of doubt, the mining lease was granted for 15 years to Barari, which is the subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, an Australian company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and also on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. The lease covers an area of 42.63 Km2 in and around Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.
The Commission notes in spite of the publication of the lease which is now widely available to the general public, it has become increasingly clear that the commentators have not read the agreement in its entirety and as result many of concerns are based on assumptions that are inaccurate and assertions that are not supported by facts or any data.
Recognising these concerns raised, the Commission has scheduled a press conference on Thursday, 7th December, 2023 to further explain the nature of the contract and procedures, including the next steps after the grant of the lease.
The Commission would like to assure the public of our utmost commitment to transparency and accountability in dealing with any mineral resources that rightly belong to the people of Ghana. The Commission further assures the public that the lease was signed in the best interest of Ghana.
SIGNED:
MARTIN KWAKU AYISI
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
MINERALS COMMISSION
