Ransford Gyampo has raised concerns over Ghana’s current royalty framework for minerals, particularly in relation to the Mfantseman Lithium project, urging the government to ensure that natural resources benefit the country and local communities.
Speaking on the matter, Gyampo said, “Having fought the previous Government on the Lithium deal, I had to dig to ascertain the veracity of the claim that this government wants to pay 5 percent Royalty instead of the proposed 10 percent.
My digging meant I had to speak to officials of state including our sector minister.”
He explained that under Section 25 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2010, Act 794, “a total of only 5 percent Royalties would have to be paid for our minerals and natural resources.” Gyampo noted that increasing the royalties to 10 percent would require an amendment to the Act.
He added that the current sector Minister has promised to table an amendment to ensure that Ghanaian resources earn an “appreciable rate.”
Gyampo emphasized the importance of active civic engagement in shaping policy.
“We have the power to engage and to demand a new Royalty rate that would help our developmental efforts and ensure that our natural resources are not taken away for pittance.
“So, rather than resorting to cynicism, we must engage and seize the opportunity to make informed inputs even as our sector Minister considers an amendment proposal to Act 794.”
He also called for further consultations on the Mfantseman Lithium project to consider its effects on local communities.
“There should be further and more substantive consultations about the Mfantseman Lithium exploitation, its potential impact on the community, the mitigating interventions to deal with negative impact and the proper Royalties that must be paid to the Sovereign People of Ghana and Mfantseman,” he said.
Gyampo stressed that his commitment to protecting Ghana’s interests remains unchanged.
“It must be noted that when we were speaking against the previous government on this deal, we did so purely out of our conviction that our country deserves better.
“This hasn’t changed. We are determined to serve well in this government such that we would be able to minimize complaints of people and if we are successful at this, then no amount of propaganda would push us to speak against a government that is serving the people well.”
