Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons, has raised fresh concerns over Ghana’s lithium policy, alleging that government officials may have misled the public about the feasibility of refining lithium locally.
In a post on X, Simons stated that documents from Atlantic Lithium indicate a scoping study on downstream lithium processing had already been completed, with conclusions that local refining is not economically viable under current conditions.
“They have made it look like Atlantic Lithium is open to the possibility of refining lithium in Ghana,” Simons wrote, adding that officials had even presented a scoping study clause in the lease agreement as if it were a future requirement.
However, the document dated February 21, 2024, addressed to the Minerals Commission, details a study conducted by engineering firm Mincore, which assessed lithium carbonate and lithium sulphate processing options in Ghana.
The study concluded that both options return negative net present values and do not justify the required capital investment.
“It is being suggested that it is all shakara, that we are being played,” Simons said, insisting that the government must clarify what it knew and when.
He publicly called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to respond. “We are asking the Mines Minister publicly to confirm or deny,” he stated.
