By Kingsley Nana Buadu
The Central Region is currently playing host to the nation’s Lithium resources.
Aside from the Mfantsiman area where the resource was initially found in commercial quantities by Atlantic Lithium company, more of the mineral have further been found in commercial quantities in areas such as Ekumfi, Ajumako and Gomoa West Districts.
It is being explored by Lithium Resource Ghana Limited.
A joint venture company of UK-based CAA mining Ltd and Empire Rare Earth and Metals Group Limited, a local company.
Chiefs and people in these areas of the region are already excited about the development, hoping it would open employment doors to the youth and also facilitate the development of the region and the country in general.
A recent World Bank report suggests that the production of Lithium will need to be significantly ramped up by more than 450 percent by 2050 to meet demand from energy storage technologies. This presents a good opportunity for Ghana to broaden its historically focused mining sector.
Aside the Ewoyaa Lithium mine, in the Mfantsiman area which is expected to have it first production of Lithium concentrate from the mine in the second quarter of 2025, another reconnaissance and exploration work is being undertaken in the Ekumfi, Gomoa West and Ajumako Enyan Essiam Districts of the Central Region.
About 157 Square km of land connecting the three Districts in the central region is being explored by Lithium Resource Ghana Limited, a joint venture company of U.K.-based CAA mining Ltd and Empire Rare Earth and Metals Group Limited, a local company.
We are told the company is interested in pursuing an integrated strategy of exploration, mining, and refining to Lithium chemicals within Ghana.
A project that is clearly inline with the government of Ghana’s new policy and strategy for strategic minerals as Lithium.
Ghana is one of the prominent African participants at the COP-26 who sent a record number of delegates.
Immediately before the summit, Ghana reaffirmed it determined contribution commitment to lower it greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15 per cent by 2030.
At the sidelines of the conference, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo launched Ghana’s National Energy Transition Framework developed by the energy transition Committee.
The framework is a long-term plan that covers the year 2022 to 2070 and combines existing policies with new measures to achieve a just and equitable transition.
The framework highlights, among other things, four key policy options for consideration to achieve a smooth transition.
First is de-carbonisation, energy access, security, energy efficiency, and Cross-Cutting.
Regarding energy access and security, the framework specifically recommended the need to exploit Ghana’s Lithium and other critical green minerals to develop the green energy industries.
This is to ensure the gradual takeover from polluted energy.
What is good about the new company exploring Lithium at the Ekumfi and adjoining Districts is that, we are told the company Lithium Resource Ghana Limited has shown interest in establishing a Lithium refinery in the Western regional capital, Takoradi.
This is good news because it would help Ghana take full advantage by deriving full benefit from the mineral, unlike other natural resources the nation is endowed with.
It is therefore imperative for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource and the Minerals Commission to do proper engagement and collaboration to develop the idea and ensure its smooth implementation.
This new developments is not only good news for the chiefs and people of the Central Region but Ghana in general. Although, operations have not started in any of the projects areas, the chiefs and people are highly excited and expecting the companies to begin operation fully for the youth to get employment and the area to develop.
According to them, though Lithium Resource Ghana Limited have not yet begun operation, the company is already supporting the communities in their operational area.
Their concern has been the long delay on the part of the minerals commission in providing the companies with license to begin full operations.
The Vice president of the Central Regional House of Chiefs Osagyefo Kwame Akonu, who is also paramount Chief of Enyan Maim, and other chiefs in the area called on government through the Minerals Commission to fast track the process of licence acquisition so they would start full operation.
Responding to the Chiefs requests , the Cape Coast District Officer for Minerals Commission, Jonathan Boateng, commended the new company, LRGL, describing them as very professional and adhering to all protocols and community relations.
According to him, this new mineral can not be treated like others and called on the people to exercise patients so that the appropriate steps and regulations are followed to allow them to derive the full benefit.
“The mineral is being considered strategic, so there is special plan for such minerals.”
According to the GIS and Database Manager of company, Justice Amekudi, The Ghana Lithium Project is composed of three specific operations, first, exploration and evaluation of Lithium occurrences, mining and concentrating / beneficiation and thirdly refinery/lithium hydroxide production facility which would be located in Takoradi.
The CSR manager of the Company, Dominic Apedu, explained that Lithium Resources Ghana Limited started it operation in the area just about 6 months ago, it has already been collaborating and supporting the communities within their operational area.
