By: News Ghana

The Ghanaian government has withdrawn the revised lithium mining agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited from parliamentary consideration after facing significant criticism from civil society, industry experts, and legislators. The decision, announced by Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister Yusif Sulemana, will allow for broader stakeholder engagement and technical consultations before the deal is resubmitted.

The renegotiated agreement, which covers the Ewoyaa lithium project in Mankessim, had lowered the royalty rate from 10% to 5% in response to falling global lithium prices. However, policy think tank IMANI Africa and other groups strongly contested the change, arguing that the project remains profitable and that the reduction would result in a substantial annual revenue loss for Ghana, estimated at around $17.5 million.

The withdrawal reflects the government’s responsiveness to cross-party concerns. Parliament’s Speaker has referred the matter to relevant committees for further scrutiny, emphasizing a commitment to transparency and improved fiscal terms in the management of the country’s critical minerals.