The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on December 3, 2025, met with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, together with chiefs and community leaders from the Mankessim Traditional Area, to discuss the Ewoyaa Lithium Project and ongoing reforms in Ghana’s mining sector.
The engagement, held as part of a national dialogue on the management of Ghana’s mineral resources, centred on strengthening transparency, fairness and legal compliance in the exploitation of the country’s lithium deposits.
Minister Buah outlined government’s plan to introduce a sliding-scale royalty system for lithium and other minerals. The mechanism is intended to safeguard national interests while keeping mining projects viable in the face of swings in global commodity prices.
Under the proposed model, royalty rates would vary with market performance—falling when prices decline and rising when they improve—ensuring Ghana maximises value without discouraging investment.
Addressing the chiefs and committee members, the Minister emphasised that the legal framework governing mineral royalties remains fundamental to policy direction. He explained that although amendments to the Minerals Act had introduced fixed royalty rates, the accompanying legislative instrument required to guide future adjustments was never developed. Government has now completed this instrument, which will be presented to Cabinet and subsequently laid before Parliament.
The meeting also reviewed concerns about recent fluctuations in global lithium prices, which have affected operations worldwide, including the Ewoyaa project.
Chiefs and community representatives welcomed the proposed reforms as necessary to protect jobs and economic activity in the Central Region, while ensuring the country secures equitable returns from its resources.
Minister Buah assured participants that the sliding-scale royalty system offers a balanced and forward-looking solution capable of delivering greater national benefits as market conditions improve, reaffirming government’s commitment to acting in the best interest of Ghanaians.
