Delays in lithium agreement are ‘strangling our souls’ - Mankessim Omanhen

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, the Omanhen of the Mankessim Traditional Area, has declared communities affected by lithium exploration in his jurisdiction as Artificial Disaster Zones, calling for urgent national intervention to alleviate their worsening conditions.

The declaration comes in the wake of the government’s decision to withdraw the lithium mining agreement from Parliament to allow for further stakeholder consultations. This follows nearly two years of delays in ratification, which have stalled compensation payments to residents affected by mining activities.

While the Omanhen said he did not oppose the withdrawal, he emphasised that the prolonged uncertainty has exacerbated the suffering of his people, leaving the festive season overshadowed by despair and anxiety.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI painted a stark picture of the situation in the affected communities.

“Despite Christmas looming just days away, countless farmers lie impoverished, barred from sowing vital crops, their homes besieged and lands seized without a dime in compensation,” he said.

He described the conditions as an artificial disaster, arguing that the pervasive fear, frustration, and uncertainty were more destructive than a natural calamity.

According to the Omanhen, the delayed ratification of the Atlantic Lithium agreement is not merely hindering the company’s operations; it is “strangling our souls, poisoning our prosperity, and igniting a ticking time bomb that threatens the very fabric of my people and our nation.” He warned that without urgent action, the Christmas season would be marked by shattered hopes.

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI also dismissed rumours that the withdrawal of the lithium agreement signalled the cancellation of the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, calling such claims baseless and unfounded. He explained that the withdrawal followed concerns raised by civil society organisations, industry experts, and stakeholders advocating for better terms for Ghana.

The move, he said, allows the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to conduct further consultations, including recent engagements with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources and civil society groups.

The Omanhen provided details of the initial agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium, which proposed a 10 per cent royalty rate, 13 per cent free carried interest for the state, and value-addition initiatives such as a chemical plant. However, he noted that some civil society groups and politicians criticised the royalty rate as inadequate, while the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources flagged that the 10 per cent rate conflicted with Ghanaian law, which stipulates a five per cent royalty unless the Minerals and Mining Act is amended.

He added that advocacy groups welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw the agreement, viewing it as an opportunity to secure a better deal for the country.

Nevertheless, the Omanhen stressed that while negotiations continue, affected residents whose farmlands and homes have been destroyed must receive urgent compensation to sustain their livelihoods.