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NDC Caucus insists on law amendment before ratifying lithium deal

The Majority Caucus in the Lands and Natural Resources Committee has clarified their position on the lithium agreement brought before the House by the former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abudullai Jinapor under the previous administration in 2024.

Date Created : 11/25/2025 : Story Author : Dominic shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Responding to questions at a press conference by the Caucus on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, and addressed by the chairman of the committee, Collins Dauda, Mr. Rockson Dafeamekpor highlighted that the then Minority only pointed out that the Minister was trying to contract against the law in respect of the rate of the royalty of 10% in the Lithium agreement.

He said their position was that the terms of the agreement must align with the law, saying "if they were minded to contract that way, then the law must be updated to align with the terms of the agreement."

Section 25 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended states; “Royalties - A holder of a mining lease, restricted mining lease or small-scale mining license shall pay royalty in respect of minerals obtained from its mining operations to the Republic at the rate of 5%of the total revenue earned from minerals obtained by the holder”.

Unfortunately, he said the Minister failed to have the law amended until they left power.

He contended that the 10% royalty was going to give the country more money so the Minority at the time couldn't have rejected it; “but the circumstances the Minister rushed to parliament at the time, we needed things to be done properly in accordance with the law and called for amendment; They refused to do so until they left power.”

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the benefit of power; and the agreement having been brought back to parliament is ensuring that things are done according to the law. "So, the law must first of all be amended to align with the agreement".

He cautioned that nobody should stampede the current government into ratifying the agreement without first amending the law; adding that the Committee has scheduled a lot of engagements with relevant authorities and bodies for their input, and when that is done, the report will be made public for all to get the details.

He assured the public that every step being taken in respect of this agreement is for the collective good of the nation and the people whose livelihoods are directly linked to it.