Mfantseman MP to Minerals Commission: Fast track operational license for the Atlantic Lithium company

Ophelia Quansah Hayford, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman, has urged the Minerals Commission and other authorities to expedite the issuance of an operational license to the Saltpond Atlantic Lithium Company so that it may commence complete operations.

While waiting for the constituency's share of 1D1F, the youth of Mfantseman, according to the member of parliament, are looking forward to a job opportunity with the Company once it receives its operational license.

In an interview on the sidelines of this year's regional workers day durbar at Saltpond, the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, and the MP, Madam Ophelia Quansah Hayford, commended the Atlantic Lithium company for their continuous support towards the region's activities and prayed that efforts are expedited to regularize their operation so that they can employ more youth from the region.

The Atlantic Lithium Company has been conducting lithium exploration at Ewoyaa near Saltpond for approximately seven years.

Lithium is a component used to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles.

Iron Ridge Resources, the parent company of Atlantic Lithium, announced a preliminary mineral resource estimation for its Ghana Ewoyaa project containing 14.5 million tonnes of lithium at a lithium oxide grade of 1.31 percent in January 2020.

The initiative aims to make Ghana the first country in West Africa to produce lithium, generating significant revenue to fund its socioeconomic development.

Since the announcement of this positive news, the residents of Mfantseman, particularly the youth, have anticipated employment opportunities with the company, but their expectations have not been met to a significant degree.

Seven years ago, the company was still conducting exploration and prospecting.

People are curious as to why a commercial operation license has not been issued to them so that they can begin full operation and employ more young people.

Ophelia Quansah Hayford is the representative for Mfantseman.

Ophelia Quansah Hayford, the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, and Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan, the Regional Minister, have joined the calls for the Mineral Commission and other authorities to expedite the issuance of the company's commercial operation license so they can begin full operations.

The MCE, Ike Lord Ennu, expressed optimism that the Atlantic Lithium company will have its commercial operation license the following year.