Ghana Lithium Deal, Can We Learn from the Past?

We have failed with bad leadership and governance. We have never thought to show good stewardship for our naturally endowed resources, forming the springboard upon which we build our economies. Our democratic governance has been a disaster too.

Today, our resources are like badges on the wall as if they are degree certificates hung on our office walls which means nothing.

Since we cannot afford basic needs for our citizens, one would ask if our resources were turning out to be a curse rather than a blessing.

In a recent interview on one of the radio stations, we shared our frustration over the current Lithium deal our Ghanaian government is having with Atlantic Lithium Limited (an Australian company).

Therefore, the need to partner with Atlantic Lithium Limited, who has the expertise and the funds to do it, and that, we should take emotions out of the deal.

So, to address this discovery in Lithium, with tact, corporate decisions filled with ideas from diverse experts and concerned citizens, like the many professionals Ghana has home and abroad is paramount.

We see similar patterns to how we handled our Cocoa, Timber, Bauxite, Gold, Diamond, Oil, and Gas.

We wish to exclaim as compatriots of our country – Can anyone in leadership today tell us precisely what we have used our natural resources to build for citizens’ benefit?

They, however, managed to create, adopt, and work excellent policies in their favour to help their economy flourish.

This is not to say everything was or is rosy and perfect but to make sure they use their natural resources correctly to benefit their economic development.

As a result, the ordinary citizen could mostly feel its positive impact. With good policies comes the fruit of sanity and adherence to the policies, and unlike other countries with similar resources like Congo, Angola, and Nigeria, to mention a few, Botswana has been able to offset civil wars or intense infighting to take over or control the proceeds from diamonds due to its policies in place.

Finally, look to the Western and Developed Worlds like the US, Canada, Australia, United Arab Emirates (Dubai), China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, to mention a few, have managed to use whatever resources they have (or not) to create a world for which we desire to live/visit (in most cases) and want to replicate their strategies, however not willing to suffer the short-term pain for it.

If you take China, Dubai, and Malaysia as examples, their development only took less than four decades to get to where they are now.