The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has insisted that Ghana will not allow the export of lithium in its raw state.

The minister’s explanation follows the mining lease granted to Barari DV Ltd, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium, for the exploitation of lithium at the Ewoyaa concessions in the Central Region.

Already, the ministry and the Minerals Commission have said the deal is one of the best terms for Ghana and will be strictly enforced.

For this reason, Mr Jinapor has said, government had infused in the lithium agreement between it and Barari DV Ghana Limited a clause that ensure the retention of a significant part of the mining value chain locally.

Addressing a press briefing on Ghana’s First Lithium Contract, Terms, Benefits and the Way Forward on Thursday, December 7, 2023, Mr Abu Jinapor insisted that the Lithium  Mining Lease includes provisions for the establishment of a refinery and the provision of the lithium by-products to local industries, hence the decision to process lithium locallly was in the best interest of the state.

The Minister enlisted  significant advantages expected from the implementation of the Lithium deal disclosing that the execution of the contract will give Ghana 10% in the form of royalties which will be one of the highest in the country’s mineral exploration history.

He added that, government has also secured 19 percent state participation in Barari DV Limited, which is projected to scale up to 30 percent by the end of the contract.

“We have already secured 19 percent state participation in this mining company with the requirement to scale it up to a minimum of Ghanaian participation through listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange for shares to be made available to Ghanaians and Ghanaian entities”.