In response to the criticisms surrounding the recent lithium deal, the Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has urged critics to move beyond assumptions and engage in well-informed discourse.

During his appearance on Peace FM's Kokrokoo Show, he engaged in a a debate with the former People's National Convention (PNC) General Secretary, Atik Mohammed, concerning the lithium mining lease granted to Barari DV Ltd.

Atik Mohammed argued that the lithium deal lacks legal protection and questioned the negotiating proficiency of the sector Minister.

He emphasized the importance of not relying solely on the Minister's negotiation skills, particularly in determining the carried interest in lithium, given its potential as a future substitute for oil.

In a swift rebuttal, the Director of Local Government Services at the Office of the President, asserted that individuals like Mr Atik and others could better utilize their time in more meaningful endeavors instead of channeling their energies into criticizing the lithium agreement.

Mr Aboagye emphasized the need for a constructive dialogue to gain a better understanding of the complexities of the deal and its potential impact on the nation's economic landscape.

"Sometimes, people need to get busy, a lot of the people making the commentary are jumping the gun. They are making a lot of assumptions. A lot of the points they are making are not grounded on any facts.

"This is a negotiation, until we have all the facts in the negotiation room, everything you say can be either you are being emotional, non-factual or you are using a lot of assumptions," he added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has expressed the government's openness to alternative agreements in lieu of the current Lithium Mining lease with Barari DV Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited, for mining Lithium at Ewoyaa in the Mfantsiman Municipality of the Central Region.

Despite facing criticisms, Mr. Jinapor has emphasized that the lease agreement, as signed under the current arrangement, stands as the best mineral resource agreement ever entered into by the country.

“Government is very happy to lis­ten to superior arguments, alterna­tives or superior proposition from Ghanaians, Academia Ghanaian Institutions, civil society organisa­tions and the rest, much more a per­sonality that has occupied the high office of Chief Justice. If the Chief Justice puts forward an alternative, critique, suggestions, proposals which is superior to what we are doing, then the most important thing to do is that we structure an arrangement and reconstruct a new one in the interest of Ghana and to the benefit of all Ghanaians,” he emphasised.