Mining investors have raised concerns about the prolonged delay in ratifying a lithium mining lease for the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana’s Central Region, a project awarded to Atlantic Lithium through its local subsidiary, Barari DV Ghana Ltd. The lease, originally signed on October 20, 2023, has yet to secure parliamentary approval after political disagreements stalled the process.
A revised agreement was signed in 2025 and submitted to parliament on November 11, but controversy erupted over a reduction in the royalty rate from 10% to 5%. The backlash prompted the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to withdraw the lease on December 10, 2025, to allow for further consultations.
Nine days later, the minister re-submitted the lease alongside a proposed sliding royalty system that would range between 5% and 12% depending on global lithium prices. The proposal was referred to parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee for review and a report to the full chamber.
Despite more than 25 parliamentary sittings and at least one committee meeting on the matter, there has been little visible progress or official communication on the lease’s status. The lack of updates has drawn attention from global mining investors monitoring the project.
Some shareholders in Atlantic Lithium say the delay is beginning to undermine confidence in Ghana’s mining sector. Investors warn that uncertainty around regulatory processes could discourage future capital inflows.
Others say sentiment toward Ghanaian mining investments is already shifting, with some investors reportedly selling shares in companies operating in the country. The concerns reflect broader anxieties about predictability and transparency in the approval process.
Analysts note that Ghana still needs to conduct due diligence to ensure the lithium agreement delivers maximum national benefit while keeping the project commercially viable. Achieving that balance, they say, requires negotiations and consultations with all stakeholders.
However, industry observers argue that clearer communication and greater transparency from authorities would help reassure investors. Predictable processes remain a key factor for investors deciding where to allocate capital in the global mining sector.