The sole Ghanaian with a 10% stake in the Barari DV lithium concession, Ben Nunoo Mensah, is calling for a revision of the country’s mining laws.
This call comes after he raised concerns that the government’s 13% royalties from lithium exploration, often referred to as ‘white gold,’ are insufficient. In an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s ‘The Lowdown’, Ben Nunoo Mensah argued that the current mining laws do not serve the interest of Ghanaians and require urgent reform.
“Ghanaians must benefit from the resources that God has blessed us with, rather than being exploited by foreigners. “If you look at our mining towns like Tarkwa, Iduapriem, and Obuasi, it’s clear we need to speak out about what’s wrong and why we aren’t benefiting,” he said.
Nunoo Mensah emphasised the need for Ghanaians to push policymakers to address the exploitation and revise the laws accordingly. He warned that without pressure, the exploitation would persist.
The businessman also noted that the current mining laws have led to Ghanaians selling their concessions to foreigners. “All the big mining companies in Ghana, and all the concessions they now own, were once 100% owned by Ghanaians. Over time, foreign companies have managed to twist the arms of Ghanaians and oust them from any equity holding in their own country,” he explained.
He further added, “Our laws are not structured to protect Ghanaian interests. Foreign entities can easily exploit these laws to edge Ghanaians out. As a 10% shareholder in Barari, I know firsthand the challenges of dealing with people trying to muscle in and push you out.”
Many experts have called for new models to end the exploitation of Ghana’s mineral resources, such as joint ventures and service agreements, which provide for equitable benefit-sharing, enhanced local participation, and value addition.
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