Policy think tank, IMANI Africa has said that as Parliament gets ready to deliberate on the controversial Lithium agreement, the public can expect civil society organisations to champion the cause of Ghanaians.
In a paper on the agreement, Imani said that “there can be no compromise of the position that the agreement, as currently drafted, does not meet public expectations. The government will do well to listen.”
The Minority in Parliament had demanded that the government lays before the House, the 15-year mining lease with Barari DV Ghana Limited before the commencement of mining of lithium at Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.
Ranking member on the Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, said that per Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution, an agreement of this nature should first go to Parliament for approval.
The Yapei Kusawgu lawmaker told journalists in Parliament on Thursday, December 7 that, “Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution is explicit and it states that any transaction, inclduing but not limited to the application for a license to exploit natural resources requires prior parliamentary approval. On this note, I want to make it loud and clear that the agreement between the government of Ghana and Barari DV should be laid before Parliament without delay.”
But the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, hinted at seeking parliamentary approval for the agreement. He stressed that approval by Parliament is needed before the contract becomes fully valid.
He said this at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, December 7 where he justified the agreement.
IMANI Africa in a statement said “We also continue to press the case that there is nothing in the way the contract has been drafted that will increase the odds of lithium refining happening in Ghana in a way that will boost value addition, quality jobs, public revenues, and local businesses.
“The current drafting simply says that the company will only refine based on the ‘outcome’ of a scoping study. Our position is that the common expectations of both the government and the company as to what conditions must exist before refining will be possible must be indicated in some form to enable tracking.
“Whether it is profitability level, raw lithium availability, electricity pricing and availability, tax waivers for complementary imports, or whatever may be required, the text should be clear so that civil society and others can monitor progress towards value addition, which everyone agrees is essential considering Ghana’s history with mining.”
Source: 3News.com
