Following the delay in the approval of the lithium mining agreements in Parliament, Paramount Chiefs in the Mfantseman Paramountcy have urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to look beyond politics and expedite the process of approving the mining license.
“Parliament needs to ratify the bill quickly, and the Minerals Commission needs to grant licenses to Atlantic Lithium Limited to commence construction and mining of lithium at Ewoyaa in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region,” the chiefs demanded.
Speaking to Ghone News’ Yaw Boagyan, the Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area of Yamoransa, Okogyeman Nana Okese Essandoh IX, commended Atlantic Lithium Company for their numerous engagements with the chiefs and people within the beneficiary areas to educate them on the benefits and economic impact of the project without hiding anything.
“My advice and plea to politicians is that we should look beyond politics and focus on the development of Ghana. There is no doubt that lithium mining will bring fortune. While I acknowledge that no mining is without problems, with proper steps, strategies, and approaches, we can minimize these issues, making it beneficial for the nation,” he disclosed.
Okogyeman Okese Essandoh IX emphasized, “This is not the first time in the history of Ghana that we are going to mine. Mining started in Ghana long ago, and with lithium coming on board, our experience will guide us to handle it well and do things right. We must ensure that pre-mining, during mining, and post-mining activities become a blessing rather than a curse.”
He called on the people within the beneficiary areas to exercise patience, assuring them that the chiefs would fight for the compensation they deserve.
The Paramount Chief of the Abora Traditional Area of Abakrampa, Emintsinminim Otu XI, also warned against the politicization of the approval process for Atlantic Lithium’s permit. He called on politicians to put aside partisan politics for the region’s benefit and the youth.
“I am pleading with them; this shouldn’t be about NPP and NDC. They should think of the region’s benefit and the youth as well,” he urged.
According to him, the traditional rulers have agreed to allocate 1% of the revenue to a Community Development Fund, which can be used to improve the living standards of the local population by investing in basic services, utilities, and social amenities.
He appealed to the Members of Parliament to approve the license for the lithium company as soon as possible.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Yaw Boagyan