The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has urged mining stakeholders and traditional authorities to actively support Atlantic Lithium Limited’s sustainability in Ghana.
He mentioned that their backing would not only spur economic growth in the Central Region but also benefit the local youth and the nation as a whole.
The Deputy Minister made this appeal during a visit to the Atlantic Lithium site on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, in the Mankessim Municipality of the Central Region, accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry and the Minerals Commission.
Mr. Duker highlighted that the terms of Atlantic Lithium’s mining lease are among the best globally and would bring significant prosperity to Ghana.
He pointed out that the 13% state carried interest in the company’s mining lease is exceptional on a global scale.
Additionally, he noted that by increasing the royalty rate from 5% to 10%, Atlantic Lithium’s operations would greatly benefit the country compared to other leases.
Mr. Duker praised Atlantic Lithium for adhering to the local content policy, ensuring that its managerial workforce is predominantly Ghanaian.
The Deputy Minister’s delegation included the Advisor on Mines to the Minister, Technical Director of Mines at the Ministry, Mr. Peter Awuah, and other officials from the Ministry and Minerals Commission.
In a presentation, the General Manager of Atlantic Lithium, Mr. Ahmed Salim, updated the visiting team on the company’s operations and urged the government to facilitate parliamentary ratification of the lease agreement for commercial operations to commence next year.
The team, led by the Deputy Minister, also visited the family of a recent accident victim from the mine, presenting items and assuring them of the government’s support and the company’s commitment to implementing measures to prevent future incidents.