The Nkusunkum Traditional Council in the Central Region has implored the government to accelerate the development and mining of lithium in the area.
The Council has also called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure that Parliament urgently ratifies the Lithium Mining lease agreement to pave the way for the smooth take-off of the project.
The appeal was made when a delegation from the Nkunsumkum Traditional Council in the Mfantsiman Municipality, led by its president, Nana Okesse Essandoh, paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Tuesday.
“Mfantsiman has discovered large deposits of Lithium. The greater portion of these deposits are found in the Nkusunkum Traditional Area, however, our major problem now is parliamentary ratification of the lease agreement. It is our plea that you will use your good office to speed up the process so the development of the mine will commence before you leave office,” Nana Essandoh said.
The traditional Council expressed its gratitude for the many development projects undertaken in the Municipality and officially invited the President to join them in the final funeral rites of the late Omanhene of Nkusunkum, Nana Okesse Essandoh IX as well as the annual Obidum festival of the people.
Other members of the delegation were Nana Kwesi Brebo, Benkumhene of Nkusunkum, Nana Kwabonko V, Ankobiahene of Nkusunkum, Nana Poma XIII, Adontenghene of Nkusunkum, Nana Egyir Okofo, Dwantuahene of Nkusunkum, Nana Tekyi, Kyidomhene of Nkusunkum and Nana Kwame Ntsiful, Krontehene of Nkunsumkum.
Nana Essandoh said the discovery of lithium in commercial quantities in the area is critical for the development of the country, particularly the Mfantsiman Municipality.
He said the traditional council supports the government on the steps so far taken to mine lithium and expects Parliament as a matter of urgency to ratify the lease agreement between the country and Atlantic Lithium Company.
Nana Essandoh said over 700 years of its existence, the Nyanmoransah for the first time since 2017 had seen all of its town roads tarred with bitumen.
Additionally, the redevelopment of Victoria Park at Saltpond, the elevation of Biriwa from Vocational Training Institute to a TVET status and the construction of several market stores across the municipality, he said, demonstrates the government’s commitment to developing the area.
He, however, appealed for a bus for the Saltpond Methodist Senior High School and the Nkusunkum Traditional Council to ease their transportation problems.
President Akufo-Addo on his part, expressed his appreciation to the council for recognising his contributions towards the development of the area.
The President assured that the government would do whatever it takes to ensure that the development of the Lithium Industry became a reality, adding: “I am of the hope when Parliament resumes they will take a serious look at the lease and ratify the lease.”
Rex Mainoo Yeboah
