Nana Mbronu IX, Chief of Awoyaa within the MfantsIman municipality has urged parliamentarians and the general public to tone down criticism on the Atlantic Lithium deal which the teeming youth in the town and government are set to benefit greatly when it starts.
The chief made this call when the Deputy Lands Minister in charge of mines Hon. George Mireku Duker paid a working visit to the Atlantic Lithium mine site last Tuesday to inspect and familiarize himself with the mines operation since it’s the first of it’s kind in Ghana.
The Chief expressed his profound joy about citing of the mine in his town and the benefit thereof to the young men and woman in terms of job opportunities when the mine becomes operational.
He further commended the government’s efforts towards the development of Ghana’s first lithium Mine on their land, which though yet to start full operations, has made a significant impact on their local economy.
He therefore seized the opportunity to plead with Parliament of Ghana and Ghanaians at large to stop politicizing the operations of the Mine and help fast-track the ratification of their lease.
The Deputy Minister on his part commended the Management for their collaborative efforts with the government in delivering the best mining fiscal agreement Ghana has ever entered into, notably on royalties, free-carried interest, and local participation pegged at 10%, 13% and room for over 30% respectively.
He further charged the management to review all their safety standard operating procedures to ensure that, no fatality is ever recorded before and during main operations and charged the Mine Inspectors to deepen their monitoring on the Mine.
He also assured the management of the Mine of Government’s full commitment to get their mining lease ratified as soon as practicable.
Hon. Duker was accompanied on the trip by Mfantseman MCE, Hon. Ike Lord Ennu, the Advisor on Mines, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, Technical Director of Mines, Mr. Peter Awuah, Deputy Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr. John Amoaning and other officials.