Franklin Cudjoe has urged government to priorities transparency, independent research and parliamentary oversight in decisions surrounding Ghana’s lithium resources.
In his comments shared on Facebook and sighted by MyNewsGh, the IMANI Africa President stressed that lithium’s true value lies beyond raw extraction and cannot be determined solely by investor-supplied data.
“Lithium by its chemical properties has its added value realised far and above the raw ores,” he said.
According to him, crucial issues such as value addition, local processing and benefits to communities where lithium is mined must be guided by Ghana’s own technical assessments.
“There are other important matters of value addition, processing of the ore and benefits to the immediate environs where the lithium is found that must only be determined by conducting Ghana’s own feasibility studies independent of the investor’s data,” Cudjoe stated, noting that such studies are yet to be completed.
“That is still outstanding,” he added.
Cudjoe referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s public engagement on the lithium debate as a signal that decisions must follow a clear and consultative process.
“Given President John Dramani Mahama’s serious regard for the Lithium conversation by publicly engaging on the subject, we would urge the Minister to ensure that all decisions related to this matter be transparent, consultative, and data driven as the President has clearly directed,” he said.
He expressed hope that Parliament, particularly the committee handling the matter under the leadership of Hon. Collins Dauda, would play a decisive role in shaping the final outcome.
“We hope the Parliamentary Committee’s conversation on the matter under the leadership of Hon. Collins Dauda would guide the final decision on the matter,” Cudjoe said.
