Debates about the credibility and transparency of the lithium mining lease agreement signed by the government with Australian company Barari DV Ghana Ltd., a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd., for the exploitation of lithium in the Ewoyaa area for a period of 15 years still wage on.
Former PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed, has added his voice to the ditch of the deal as it lacks transparency.
Speaking on Kwame Sefa Kaye’s Kokrokoo morning show on Peace FM, Atik questioned the credibility of the deal after presenting the same two letters of approval of recommendations signed by the land minister bearing different dates and also a mining lease that was signed on the same day, a situation he deems highly impractical.
He said, “We are not against the lithium mining lease for it is the future, but in its current form, we should trash it. This is an unacceptable lease that has to be rejected.”.
As mandated by the constitution, according to Article 703, Atik detailed that an entity that seeks to engage in such mining activities is expected to secure a letter of approval or recommendation from the lands minister after it has been approved by the minerals commission, after which the entity is expected to respond and make some payments after acceptance.
But in this case, everything appears to have happened on the same day, evidently from the date on the mining lease and the minister’s approval letter.
He said, “If you look at the approval for the recommendation letter signed by the lands minister, it bears the same date as the mining lease was signed, and it is not practicable. Unless there’s someone somewhere who will say I’m doing everything for you, you go and sort the rest out, which is quite unpracticable
“After they realised how they had rushed the whole process and how it would attract some suspicion, they backdated the date, which shows a lack of transparency, and from this we conclude that there are a lot of questions to ask
“These two letters bear different dates. It tells you that something is amiss. It is not possible because you cannot give a mining lease and get approval of a recommendation letter on the same day.
What does Article 703 of the 1992 Constitution say?
Except otherwise provided in this Act, a person shall not export, sell or otherwise dispose of a mineral unless the person holds a licence granted by the Minister for that purpose. (2) An application for a licence shall be made in writing to the Minister in the prescribed manner.