Residents of affected communities in the Mfantseman Municipality have issued a two-month ultimatum for the payment of compensation following Parliament’s ratification of the Ewoyaa Lithium Mining Agreement.
The approval, granted on March 19, 2026, gives Barari DV Limited the green light to commence large-scale extraction of lithium—often described as Ghana’s “green gold.”
Although the ratification brings relief after nearly three years of delays, community members say attention must now shift from policy approval to compensation for affected property owners.
Speaking on behalf of residents, Frank Acquah, Secretary of the Concerned Ewoyaa Lithium Affected People, stressed the urgency of settling outstanding claims.
“Now that the lease has been ratified, compensation should be the next priority. The company must fast-track the process so we can be paid as soon as possible—it should not go beyond two months,” he said.
The prolonged approval process has left many residents in uncertainty, heightening expectations for swift financial redress.
The agreement itself introduces a new royalty framework, replacing the traditional flat-rate system with a sliding-scale model tied to global lithium prices. This approach is intended to ensure that Ghana benefits more during periods of high market value.
Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Prince Arhin, sought to reassure constituents, stating that the bureaucratic bottlenecks that previously delayed the project have now been resolved. He pledged that compensation payments would not face further administrative setbacks.
Beyond compensation, Dr. Arhin encouraged local residents—particularly young people in Ewoyaa—to acquire technical skills needed to take advantage of employment opportunities expected from the mining project.
With the two-month deadline set by the community, attention is now focused on Barari DV Limited and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to deliver on expectations and ensure that the benefits of the project are fairly shared.
