What's Happening?
The Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, Okogyeman Okese Essando IX, has called on the Ghanaian government and parliament to expedite the ratification of the Ewoyaa Lithium Mining Lease. This
appeal was made during the 2025 Grand Durbar of the Odambea Festival at Saltpond. The Chief emphasized the project's potential to improve livelihoods in the Mfantseman and Nkusukum communities, which are currently experiencing hardship due to delays. The project, operated by Atlantic Lithium, has been stalled despite a 15-year mining lease agreement signed in 2023. The delay in parliamentary ratification has prevented compensation and resettlement plans from proceeding, affecting local communities' access to their lands.
Why It's Important?
The ratification of the Ewoyaa Lithium Project is crucial for economic development in the affected regions. The project promises to create over 1,200 jobs during its construction phase and contribute to local infrastructure through a Community Development Fund. The delay in ratification has left the project in legal uncertainty, potentially causing Ghana to miss out on economic opportunities in the global lithium market, especially as regional competitors like Mali advance their projects. The project's success is vital for local communities, offering job creation and economic stability, which are currently hindered by fluctuating lithium prices and governmental reviews.
What's Next?
If parliament ratifies the project, immediate steps would include compensation payments to affected communities and the commencement of resettlement construction. This would likely lead to job creation and economic revitalization in the region. The government holds a 19 percent equity stake in the project, which includes a 13 percent free carried interest, highlighting the project's potential benefits for national economic interests. However, continued delays could result in Ghana losing its competitive edge in the lithium market.
