Government pulls Lithium deal from parliament for wider consultations

The government has withdrawn its contentious lithium agreement from Parliament to allow for fresh consultations with key stakeholders, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, has told MPs.

Briefing the House on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister said the decision followed objections raised by civil society organisations, industry specialists and lawmakers on both sides of the chamber.

“Listening to my colleagues from the other side, they have made my work very easy. They have given reasons why there’s a need for us to withdraw this agreement,” he said, adding that non-governmental organisations and leading figures in the extractive sector had also called for more technical engagement before the deal returns to Parliament.

He framed the withdrawal as evidence of a commitment to accountability in the management of Ghana’s mineral wealth.

“It is for that reason that the listening minister, the listening government, has decided that we will withdraw this agreement, do further work involving you, so that together we can move forward,” he told the House.

The proposed agreement, which was intended to govern operations in Ghana’s emerging lithium industry, has attracted strong public criticism in recent months, with opponents arguing that the terms do not secure adequate benefits for the country.

Parliament is expected to reconsider a revised version of the deal once the Ministry has completed additional consultations and incorporated feedback into a reworked framework.