Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, the Omanhen of the Mankessim Traditional Area, has declared communities affected by lithium exploration under his jurisdiction as Artificial Disaster Zones, calling for immediate national intervention to address their worsening plight.
The declaration follows the government’s decision to withdraw the lithium mining agreement from Parliament to allow for further stakeholder consultations, after nearly two years of delays in ratification that have stalled compensation payments to affected residents.
Although the Omanhen said he was not opposed to the withdrawal of the agreement, he noted that the prolonged uncertainty had deepened the suffering of the people, leaving the festive season overshadowed by despair and anxiety.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI painted a grim picture of life in the affected communities.
“Despite Christmas looming just days away, countless farmers lie impoverished, barred from sowing vital crops, their homes besieged and lands seized without a dime in compensation,” he said.
He stressed that while his people were not living in refugee camps, the pervasive fear, frustration, and anger over an uncertain future had created what he described as an artificial disaster more destructive than a natural calamity.
According to the Omanhen, the delayed ratification of the Atlantic Lithium agreement was not merely stalling the company’s operations. It was “strangling our souls, poisoning our prosperity, and igniting a ticking time bomb that threatens the very fabric of my people and our nation.”
He warned that unless urgent action was taken, the Christmas season would be marked by shattered hopes, stressing that the crisis confronting the communities was man-made—stemming from bureaucratic delays and ignored appeals rather than natural causes.
Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI also dismissed rumours that the withdrawal of the lithium agreement from Parliament signalled the cancellation of the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, describing such claims as baseless, unfortunate, and unfounded.
He explained that the withdrawal followed concerns raised by some civil society organisations, industry experts, and stakeholders advocating for improved terms for Ghana. The move, he said, would allow the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to conduct further consultations, including recent engagements with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources and civil society groups.
The Omanhen noted that the initial agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium, proposed a 10 per cent royalty rate, 13 per cent free carried interest for the state, and plans for value-addition initiatives such as the establishment of a chemical plant.
However, he acknowledged that some civil society groups and politicians criticised the proposed royalty rate as inadequate. He added that the Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources had pointed out that the 10 per cent royalty was inconsistent with existing Ghanaian law, which stipulates a five per cent royalty unless the Minerals and Mining Act is amended.
He said the government’s decision to withdraw the agreement for review had been welcomed by advocacy groups as an opportunity to secure a better deal for the country.
Nevertheless, he stressed that while negotiations continue, affected residents whose farmlands and homes have been destroyed must be compensated urgently to sustain their livelihoods.
