The Member of Parliament for Juaben, Francis Kwabena Brempong Owusu-Akyaw has underscored the urgent need for the government of Ghana to create a congenial environment to propel investment into the country’s critical mineral sector, especially in lithium exploitation.
According to him, the new government should build on the gains made by the previous administration in Ghana’s lithium find.
Contributing on the floor of Parliament on a statement to mark International Day of Clean Energy on its significance and the need for Ghana’s progressive adoption towards sustainable development, Mr. Owusu-Akyaw “You cannot talk about clean energy without talking about lithium, lithium has been found in commercial quantities by the previous government and we encourage this government to continue to mine.”
Ghana recently approved its first lithium mine run by a subsidiary of Australia-based Atlantic Lithium Limited (A11.AX), as part of its drive to benefit from a global move towards electric vehicles.
Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium has been granted a 15-year lease on the mine at Ewoyaa, on Ghana’s southern coast, where the company began exploring for lithium six years ago.
However, the process stalled due to concerns raised by stakeholders with regard the country’s equity interest.
To enable the country derive maximum benefits from the resource, Mr. Owusu-Akyaw has therefore called on the current regime to focus more on removing bottlenecks to open up the sector.
He said “Lithium has a lot of benefits which will yield to the clean energy. In mining lithium, one byproduct of lithium is gannet -used for solar panels. If the country takes it serious and help the company (Atlantic Lithium) to mine, we are going to have those benefits and as such we can achieve clean energy”
A full exploitation of Ghana’s lithium potential through, innovation, and equitable practices
can unleash economic and environmental benefits for the country without compromising the well-being of communities and ecosystems sustainably.
The MP for Juaben has therefore advocated government to prioritise renewable energy integration, with bold, decisive, and inclusive action.
By: Christian Kpesese
