Central Region Chiefs reject claims they oppose 5% Lithium royalty

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, Paramount Chief of the Mankessim Traditional Area in the Central Region, has refuted allegations that traditional authorities are opposing the government’s decision to set Ghana’s lithium royalty rate at 5 percent.

He emphasised that chiefs in the area fully support the legally mandated rate and accused officials of Friends of the Nation (FoN) of deliberately spreading false information.

Addressing a meeting of the Mankessim Traditional Council last week, the Paramount Chief explained that the earlier proposal of a 10 percent royalty risked derailing the lithium project. This, he noted, prompted the government to revert to the standard 5 percent rate outlined in Ghana’s mining laws.

“It is true that if the 10 percent royalty is imposed, the project may never materialise. So government has agreed to maintain the rate prescribed by law. That is the right approach,” he said.

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI further questioned why Atlantic Lithium was initially assigned a 10 percent royalty when all other mining companies in Ghana pay the same 5 percent.

According to him, reinstating the uniform rate ensures fairness and compliance with existing regulations across the mining sector.

“The current government’s position is that the company should pay the stipulated 5 percent. Others believe the law should be amended to allow a higher rate. But if the percentage is to be increased, it must apply to every mining company,” he noted.

He also accused the leadership of Friends of the Nation of orchestrating claims that chiefs oppose the 5 percent rate.

“The head of Friends of the Nation is behind this false narrative that traditional leaders have rejected the 5 percent royalty. He instructed Charles Paa Grant on what to say in that interview,” he alleged.

The chief stressed that Paa Grant lacks the authority to speak for traditional rulers on issues of mining or royalties.

“Charles Paa Grant is not a royal. He has no mandate to meet with Friends of the Nation and declare that we reject the 5 percent royalty. He cannot speak on behalf of the chiefs,” he said.

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI reaffirmed the commitment of traditional leaders to advocate for the welfare of their communities in connection with the lithium project, but insisted that such advocacy must be grounded in legality, truth, and legitimate representation.