MINORITY CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES OVER LITHIUM AGREEMENT.
The Minority in Parliament has taken serious note of the recent public statements made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah concerning the lithium mining agreement which was earlier laid before Parliament and subsequently withdrawn.
These developments, coming after the Minister had publicly and emphatically assured Parliament and the Ghanaian people that the agreement satisfied all necessary requirements, raised concerns about ministerial responsibility, credibility, and standards of governance.
"This matter is not about punishment; it is about responsibility. "
According to the member of parliament for Old Tafo, Mr Vincent Assafuah, a Minister gives Parliament firm and unequivocal assurances that all legal, technical, and procedural requirements have been satisfied, and the same agreement is later withdrawn on the basis that those requirements were not, in fact, fully met, accountability must necessarily follow.
He added that, in every democracy, Ministers bear personal responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the information they place before Parliament.
The integrity of parliamentary oversight depends on it.
He said the Minister forcefully defended the agreement, dismissed concerns raised by the Minority and civil society, and presided over its presentation to Parliament for ratification.
The subsequent withdrawal of the agreement, now explained on grounds of inadequate consultation and the need for further review, represents a direct contradiction of the assurances previously given to Parliament.
This sequence of events amounts to an implicit admission that Parliament was asked to proceed on the basis of information that was, at best, incomplete.
While the Minority recognises that consultation and stakeholder engagement are essential elements of responsible governance, such engagement must occur before an agreement is defended and laid before Parliament, not after it has been withdrawn under public pressure. It is neither reasonable nor acceptable to assure Parliament that consultations have been concluded, only to later rely on insufficient consultation as justification for reversal. It is this inconsistency between what Parliament was told and what has now been conceded that lies at the core of our
concern.
Lithium is a strategic mineral with far-reaching implications for Ghana's industrialisation agenda, energy transition, youth employment prospects, environmental protection, and intergenerational equity.
The management of such a resource demands 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.
"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." He lamented
In the circumstances, the Minority in Parliament is of the firm view that the honourable course of action is for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to resign, or be relieved of
his position, in the interest of accountability, good governance, and the restoration of public trust in the management of Ghana's mineral
resources.
The Minority reiterates its unwavering commitment to defending the national interest and ensuring that Ghana's strategic resources are
exploited in a manner that delivers real value to the Ghanaian people, both now and for generations yet unborn. We will continue to discharge our constitutional oversight mandate without fear or favour.
Report by pKB
