Sources within the Minerals Commission have disclosed that Mr. Nunoo Mensah is the beneficiary holder of the 4.4% stake in Barari DV Limited, a revelation that may pique the interest of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.
Despite potential political implications, insiders argue that Mr. Nunoo Mensah, being a Ghanaian, has every right to invest in the country’s natural resources.
This disclosure follows the NDC’s push for complete transparency in the Barari Lithium deal, specifically urging the revelation of the identities behind the 4.4% equity stake designated under ‘Previous Land Owners.’
NDC’s Sammy Gyamfi emphasized the party’s commitment to transparency, demanding a comprehensive disclosure of the identities of the beneficial owners associated with the 4.4% equity.
He stated, “In the spirit of transparency, the NDC demands a full disclosure of the identities of the Beneficial Owners of that 4.4% Equity and how that was arrived at.”
“Ghanaians deserve to know who these ‘previous land owners’ are,” he stated and called for a clear explanation of the allocation process.
Amidst concerns over the lack of a feasibility report and mandatory local processing of Ghana’s lithium resources, Sammy Gyamfi argued that the Ghana-Barari Lithium deal is not in the best interest of the country.
He said, “Ratification of the Mining Lease agreement should not even arise at this stage.”
The NDC’s call for transparency coincides with public criticism of the government’s lithium lease agreement with Barari DV, with mounting pressure to reconsider the deal over concerns about fair compensation and potential exploitation of Ghana’s resources.
Green minerals are crucial for the development and deployment of green technologies, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles.
They are essential for manufacturing components like solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems. Some examples include lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements (REEs), copper, and graphite.
Pressure has been mounting on the government to reconsider the lithium deal amid reports that Ghana is not receiving fair compensation.
The controversy has sparked public discussions on the necessity for fairness, accountability, and transparency in deals involving the country’s valuable resources.
Public discourse on the lithium deal underscores the importance of ensuring that such agreements align with national interests and are conducted with utmost transparency and fairness.