Minority demands resignation of Lands Minister over lithium agreement withdrawal

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Amarh-Kofi Buah, to resign or for President John Dramani Mahama to relieve him of his duties following the withdrawal of the lithium agreement from Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah, described the government’s decision to withdraw the lithium agreement as an “embarrassment” to Parliament that has undermined public trust.

Mr Assafuah noted that although the Minority Caucus had raised concerns about the renegotiated lithium agreement when it was first presented, Mr Buah dismissed these concerns, which were also echoed by civil society organisations.

He emphasised that the Minister must take responsibility for his actions, especially after publicly assuring Parliament and the citizenry that the renegotiated agreement met all legal, technical, and procedural requirements.

“This matter is not about punishment; it is about responsibility. When the Minister gives Parliament firm and unequivocal assurances that all requirements have been satisfied, and the same agreement is later withdrawn due to unmet requirements, accountability must follow,” Mr Assafuah said.

He added, “The subsequent withdrawal, explained on grounds of inadequate consultations and the need for further review, directly contradicts the assurances given by the Minister to Parliament.”

While acknowledging the importance of ongoing stakeholder engagement with civil society organisations, Mr Assafuah stressed that such consultations should have occurred before the agreement was presented to Parliament.

“It is neither reasonable nor acceptable to assure Parliament that consultations have concluded, only to later cite insufficient consultations as justification for a reversal,” he said.

Highlighting the significance of managing a natural resource such as lithium, Mr Assafuah said its handling has far-reaching implications for the country’s economic growth and requires clarity, consistency, and foresight.

“The Minister’s erratic handling of this matter has undermined public confidence, weakened Ghana’s negotiating position, and exposed Parliament to avoidable embarrassment,” he added.

“In any functioning democracy, a sector Minister who presides over such contradictions and uncertainty on a matter of national importance must take responsibility for his actions. In these circumstances, the Minority of the 9th Parliament is firmly of the view that the honourable course of action is for the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to resign,” Mr Assafuah concluded.

BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY

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