Cadman Atta Mills is a veteran economist and former presidential advisor
Veteran economist and former president advisor Cadman Atta Mills has praised the John Dramani Mahama administration after being engaged over Ghana’s renewed lithium mining agreement, describing it as proof that the country now has a “listening government.”
According to Atta Mills, in a post on X on November 29, 2025, this comes after a phone discussion with the Chairman of Parliament’s Lands & Natural Resources Committee, Collins Dauda, who confirmed he will refer his concerns to the Attorney General.
Atta Mills said Dauda reached out to clarify whether negotiating a royalty rate above the statutory minimum constitutes a legal violation.
“He promised to refer my position to the Attorney-General… He assured me that he was under no pressure to conclude a deal and will collect as many views as possible to ensure Ghana gets the best deal,” he posted.
Mills expressed his delight over the call, stating that a willingness to engage private citizens on national issues proves that the new administration is a listening government.
“I have had the occasion to heap praise on this government for being a “listening government” (see post below). Hon Collins Dauda’s telephone call to me… proves that it pays to speak up and express your disagreement ESPECIALLY when it is your government that is in power,” he concluded.
What sparked the reaction?
The renewed debate centers on the agreement between Ghana and Barari DV Ghana Limited over exploitation of the lithium deposit at Ewoyaa in the Central Region.
The 2023 contract proposed a royalty rate of 10%. But under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act 794), the statutory royalty rate remains fixed at 5%.
Critics, including some members of the Minority in Parliament and civil society, have condemned the renegotiated deal as detrimental to national interest.
They argue that a 5% royalty undercuts Ghana’s leverage in what is rapidly becoming a high-value global mineral market.
On November 26, 2025, the Lands and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament announced it is reviewing the deal and urged that the law be amended if a higher rate is to be legally enforceable.
Collins Dauda clarified that while many members of the public and industry stakeholders support raising the rate to 10%, Parliament cannot impose such a figure without first updating the law.
See the post below:
I AM DELIGHTED, I AM ECOURAGED, I AM IN AWE. GHANA HAS A LISTENING GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE ARRIVED.
It is 5:00 pm Washington D.C. time. I ended a telephone call with the Honorable Collins Dauda. I have Hon. Collins Dauda’s formal permission to report on this private…
— Cadman Atta Mills (@CadmanAttaMills) November 28, 2025
ID/AE
