The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged the government to urgently review the laws and policies on mining in the country, especially regarding green minerals.
This call comes in the wake of the government’s lithium lease agreement with Barari DV, which has faced significant criticism from the public.
Green minerals are crucial for the development and deployment of green technologies, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles.
They are essential for manufacturing components like solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems. Some examples include lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements (REEs), copper, and graphite.
Pressure has been mounting on the government to reconsider the lithium deal amid reports that Ghana is not receiving fair compensation.
Concerns about the potential exploitation of Ghana’s resources and insufficient benefits for the country have sparked public debate and calls for transparency and fairness.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NDC emphasized the need for an urgent review of the country’s existing mining laws and policies, particularly regarding green minerals. The NDC expressed the view that the exploitation of the country’s green minerals should not be governed solely by existing mining laws tailored predominantly for gold mining, which have not adequately benefited the nation over the years. the years.
“We are of the firm opinion, that it is about time the existing colonial model of mining lease concession agreements, was reviewed. New models for the exploitation of our mineral resources such as Joint Ventures and Service Agreements, that provide for equitable benefit sharing, enhanced local participation and value addition,
should be considered as part of the review of the laws and policies governing our extractive sector.”
The party noted that new models for the exploitation of the country’s mineral resources such as Joint Ventures and Service Agreements, that provided for equitable benefit sharing, enhanced local participation and value addition, should be considered as part of the review of the laws and policies governing our extractive sector.
“Our beloved country urgently needs a reviewed mining regime, that provides for the sustainable funding and strengthening of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, to engage in reconnaissance and prospecting, particularly in relation to green minerals. We believe that this if supported by the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) under the right policy framework, will enhance the bargaining power of the state in the exploitation of our mineral resources,” it added.
