The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has rejected calls from the Parliamentary Minority for the resignation or removal of Sector Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, describing the demands as baseless, illogical, and lacking merit.
The Minority had called on the minister to step aside following the withdrawal of the lithium agreement, arguing that the deal contained inaccuracies and did not adequately safeguard Ghana’s national interests. They also questioned the minister’s due diligence and credibility, noting that he initially defended the agreement before retracting it for further review.
However, the ministry insists that the withdrawal of the agreement reflects transparency, responsiveness, and a commitment to inclusivity, rather than incompetence. It emphasised that the ongoing review process is intended to produce a stronger agreement that incorporates stakeholder input and ultimately benefits the nation.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, dismissed the Minority’s demands and urged the public to disregard them, noting that consultations on the lithium agreement are still ongoing.
Schandorf explained that the ministry is engaging in extensive discussions to enhance the agreement. He highlighted that, as recently as Monday, the minister met with civil society organisations to gather diverse perspectives on improving the deal.
He also noted that the ministry has extended consultations to affected communities, citing a recent engagement in Ewoyaa and surrounding areas, where ministry officials representing the minister sought input from local residents.
“These engagements aim to gather broader perspectives to make the draft agreement more beneficial to the country,” Schandorf said, questioning the rationale for demanding the minister’s resignation while consultations remain underway.
He added that it is neither logical nor reasonable to accuse the minister of failure at a time when he is actively leading efforts to refine the agreement through inclusive stakeholder participation.
“For us at the ministry, the call should be outrightly dismissed,” he concluded.
