A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon Professor Ransford Van Gyampo has reiterated his position that Ghana’s lithium deal with Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Australian-based Atlantic Lithium Limited is not in the interest of the country hence the need for a review.
The President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana Chapter of the University of Ghana, Legon and a Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs in a strong opposition rejected claims suggesting that the 10 percent royalty of the lithium deal is an achievement.
According to the widely acclaimed Political Scientist, after studying what happens elsewhere in natural resource exploration and exploitation, any well-meaning Ghanaian must not celebrate the supposed increment of royalties on a natural resource that belongs to the country from 5 to 10 percent.
He strongly asserted that the ‘colonially’ imposed 5 percent royalties on the mining of the country’s natural resources should have rather been 50 percent at the minimum, hence the need for government to use the lithium deal to make better amends to what Ghanaians must benefit from the mining of its natural resources in the country.
“With the greatest of respect to those who hold a contrary view, I still think it is an extreme display of mediocrity and near status-quo oriented mentality to describe the current Lithium Deal as better. Within what context are we describing the deal as better? One can never grow tall if he compares himself to a dwarf”
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Professor Ransford Gyampo further expressed disappointment at what he described as a deliberate attempts by the ruling government to undermine the critics of the Ghana’s lithium deal with Barari DV Ghana Limited.
He also expressed concerns about a ‘needless’ attempt by government and some group of people to create a wedge between the chiefs and the youth groups within the Mfantseman Municaplity which has unfortunately led to some youth groups in the area having commenced using some unprintable words against some chiefs within the areas.
He thus argued that the approach by government is not just inappropriate but also a ‘divisive’ and ‘insulting’ attempt to trivialize a very important national matter that rather require consensus-building and national cohesion in handling it.
“First, it was about twisting the views of some eminent under very ignorant and deceptive captions, and using a disingenuous misinformation machinery to peddle such twisted views to attempt to ridicule certain individuals, including my good self, just to discredit us. That failed woefully because, discerning Ghanaians couldn’t be that gullible.
“The second strategy is now about choosing some chiefs from the area, putting them before cameras, and editing or playing only some parts of their views on the Lithium Deal, to create an erroneous impression that they support its thievery”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Gyampo Urges Government To Engage Stakeholders On Lithium Deal
Moreover, Professor Ransford Gyampo indicated that his disagreements to the lithium deal are not base on malice or bad intention but out of nationalism, patriotism and the desire to ensure that Ghana as a country gets the best out of the exploitation and mining of lithium in Ewoyaa within the Mfansteman Municipality of the Central Region.
According to him, government must demonstrate more openness and tolerance by simply bringing those expressing concerns about the deal to common forum to have frank conversations which could factor the contrary views into the agreement to be presented to Parliament for ratification.
Professor Gyampo emphasized that such approach by government can involve ‘genuine’ consultations among the chiefs, youth groups, elites, experts and all stakeholders within Mfantseman, Ekumfi and Yamoransa Municipalities.
He concluded by stressing that if government fail to properly consult the traditional leaders, youth groups and all stakeholders within the three municipalities, it would have no choice than to continuously oppose the lithium deal.
According to Professor Rnasford Gyampo, together with the traditional authorities within the Mfantseman Municipality, the youth groups and other stakeholders, they would ensure that the people within the Mfantseman area and Ghana as a country receive better royalties and required benefit from the Ewoyaa lithium mining project.
“Thankfully, we are also working with same chiefs. Additionally, the youth groups and the enlightened elites in the Mfantseman area, both home and abroad, are more than fired to react to this deal in a manner that ensures that Mfantseman isn’t mined out with the community having nothing meaningful to show as compensation”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
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