Atlantic Lithium Reaffirms Commitment to Local Jobs as Ewoyaa Project Nears Ratification

By Sarah Adwoa Akuetteh:

Atlantic Lithium Ghana Limited says it remains committed to prioritising local employment at its Ewoyaa Lithium Project in the Mfantseman Municipality as the company edges closer to the final stages of regulatory approvals.

Speaking on the sidelines of the October session of the African Extractive Media Fellowship training in Accra, the company’s General Manager, Ahmed Salim, disclosed that as of October 2024, the project had a workforce of about 100 people, but the number currently stands at 67. He attributed the adjustment to the evolving stages of project development.

According to Mr. Salim, Atlantic Lithium has so far invested more than GH¢68 million in project development, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that the residents of Ewoyaa and surrounding communities benefit directly from employment opportunities once full operations commence.

“Our primary objective is to ensure that the local communities are the first to benefit when the mine becomes operational. Employment creation for residents remains a top priority,” he said.

His remarks come after the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Dr. Ebenezer Prince Arhin, called on the company to prioritise the hiring of local residents in its workforce plans.

Although the company is yet to begin full-scale operations, Mr. Salim revealed that Atlantic Lithium has already started contributing to national revenue through taxes. In 2024 alone, the firm paid about GH¢19.63 million in taxes, including GH¢11.37 million in Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), GH¢4.34 million in annual mineral rights, GH¢3.45 million in withholding tax, and GH¢458,000 in annual ground rent.

“We have not yet started production, but we are already paying our fair share of taxes. Once we begin production and make profit, we will start paying dividends,” Mr. Salim explained.

The Ewoyaa project, located near Saltpond in the Central Region, is Ghana’s first major lithium mining initiative a development seen as crucial to positioning the country as a key player in the global electric vehicle and battery value chain.

Currently, the project has received several regulatory approvals including the Environmental Permit, Mine Operating Permit, Water Use Permit, and Land Use Change Certificate. However, Parliamentary ratification of the mining lease remains outstanding.

The company has outlined its next key priorities, which include securing parliamentary ratification, finalising a Strategic Project Investment with the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), making a Final Investment Decision (FID), and commencing land compensation and ground-breaking activities.

Mr. Salim expressed optimism that the long-awaited parliamentary approval would be secured before the end of the year, paving the way for construction to begin.

“We are hopeful that once ratification is achieved, we can move quickly to begin land compensation and ultimately break ground,” he noted.

If approved, the Ewoyaa Lithium Project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, boost local infrastructure, and contribute to Ghana’s ambition of becoming a key hub for battery minerals in West Africa.