Lithium Deal Pulled Due to Weak Negotiation, Not Prices — Akwasi Konadu
Konadu says government’s explanation over pricing is a cover-up for poor negotiation on the lithium deal
- Akwasi Konadu says the lithium deal was withdrawn due to weak negotiation, not pricing
- He rejects claims that legal provisions or market fluctuations caused the government’s decision
- Konadu urges a stronger agreement to better protect Ghana’s interests in lithium
Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, has slammed the government for withdrawing the lithium agreement, insisting the move stems from poor negotiation rather than global pricing concerns, as officials claim.
The government announced the withdrawal on Wednesday, December 10, citing the need for further consultations with key stakeholders.
Reacting to the development, Konadu dismissed the pricing explanation as a “charade,” arguing that the real issue was the state’s failure to secure a strong deal.
He questioned why the government would cite fluctuations in global mineral prices when other mining agreements, such as those for gold, remain unaffected. “What are they going to do now that the price of gold has gone up? Are they going to renegotiate with AngloGold or Newmont? No. Those deals were agreed and ratified by Parliament,” he said.
Konadu also rejected claims that the withdrawal was influenced by legal provisions in Act 703 (later amended to Act 900), insisting that weak negotiation—not legal constraints—led to the collapse of the deal.
He urged the government to return to Parliament with a stronger agreement that safeguards Ghana’s interests in the emerging lithium sector.
