The delay in ratifying the mining lease is causing concern among mining investors, especially those who own substantial shares in Atlantic Lithium, the company that obtained the lease through its local subsidiary, Barari DV Ghana Ltd, to mine lithium at the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana’s Central Region.
The lease was first signed on October 20, 2023, but due to political impasse in parliament, it was not ratified.
A new lease was later signed in 2025 and submitted to parliament on November 11, 2025. However, outrage about the royalty rate drop from 10% to 5%, as well as worries about other features of the new lease, prompted the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to withdraw the lease on December 10, 2025, for more consultations.
Nine days later, on December 19, 2025, the minister re-laid the mining lease before parliament, along with a suggested sliding royalty rate for Ghana’s resources.
The current royalty rate ranges between 5% and 12%, depending on worldwide lithium prices.
On the same day, the Lands and Natural Resources Committee of parliament was tasked with reviewing the revised lease and reporting back to the plenary for potential ratification.
But after roughly 25 parliamentary sessions and at least one committee meeting devoted to the lithium leasing, there hasn’t been much noticeable progress and very little transparency regarding the process’s current state.
Investors in mining worldwide are starting to pay attention.
According to a prominent individual shareholder in Atlantic Lithium, the protracted delay is starting to erode trust in Ghana’s mining industry.
“I’m gradually losing confidence in the country. I just don’t get it. Everyone is watching this. Who would invest in Ghana’s mining sector, given how this has been handled since 2023? How can they go around wooing the whole mining world and then do nothing back at home?”
Investor sentiment regarding Ghana is already changing, according to another stakeholder.
“A couple of my investors have been turning quite negative on Ghana as they seem unwilling or unable to get things moving. Some have started selling their shares in Ghanaian mining companies.”
Since the process seems to have stuck at the committee level, these feelings have been boiling for a while.
Ghana must carry out its due diligence on the lithium lease and make sure the deal benefits the nation as much as possible while maintaining the project’s commercial viability for the business.
Negotiations and consultations will unavoidably be necessary to find that balance.
However, considering the amount of money involved, frequent updates and increased transparency regarding the process are crucial.
Investors typically put their money where they believe procedures are transparent and reliable.
Source: newsthemegh.com