The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources over what it describes as the inconsistent and contradictory handling of the controversial lithium mining agreement that was laid before Parliament and later withdrawn.
The Minister’s conduct, according to the Caucus, raises serious concerns about ministerial responsibility, credibility, and standards of governance, particularly after the Minister had previously assured Parliament that all requirements for the agreement had been fully met.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, MP for Old Tafo, argued that the matter is not about punishment but about responsibility.
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Mr Assafuah said, “When a Minister gives Parliament firm and unequivocal assurances that all legal, technical, and procedural requirements have been satisfied, and the same agreement is later withdrawn because those requirements were not fully met, accountability must necessarily follow.”
According to him, the Minister forcefully defended the lithium agreement, dismissed concerns raised by opposition MPs and civil society organisations, and presided over its presentation to Parliament for ratification.
However, the subsequent withdrawal of the agreement, now explained on grounds of inadequate consultation and the need for further review, directly contradicts the assurances earlier given to Parliament.
“This sequence of events amounts to an implicit admission that Parliament was asked to proceed on the basis of information that was, at best, incomplete,” the Minority stated.
The Caucus argued that while consultation and stakeholder engagement are essential to responsible governance, such processes must precede, not follow, the laying of agreements before Parliament.
“It is neither reasonable nor acceptable to assure Parliament that consultations have been concluded, only to later rely on insufficient consultation as justification for reversal,” Mr Assafuah stressed.
The Minority described lithium as a strategic mineral with far-reaching implications for Ghana’s industrialisation drive, energy transition, youth employment, environmental protection, and intergenerational equity.
They warned that the Minister’s handling of the matter has undermined public confidence, weakened Ghana’s negotiating position, and exposed Parliament to what they termed avoidable embarrassment.
“The management of such a resource demands clarity, consistency, and foresight. Unfortunately, the Minister’s erratic handling of this matter has failed on all three counts,” the Old Tafo MP said.
Citing democratic practice and constitutional standards, Hon. Assafuah maintained that a sector minister who presides over such contradictions on a matter of national importance must take responsibility.
“In the circumstances, the honourable course of action is for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to resign, or be relieved of his position, in the interest of accountability, good governance, and the restoration of public trust,” he declared.
The Minority reaffirmed its commitment to defending Ghana’s national interest and ensuring that the country’s mineral resources are exploited in a manner that delivers real and lasting value to the Ghanaian people.