Puplampu Highlights Ghana’s Push For Local Lithium Processing And Value Addition At IGF Forum

Mr Wisdom Puplampu, Assistant Manager for Research & Statistics at the Minerals Commission, says Ghana is rapidly positioning itself as a strategic player in the global lithium market.
Speaking at the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Puplampu highlighted the country’s emerging lithium sector as a new growth pole for the economy.
“Ghana’s lithium potential, primarily from hard-rock spodumene deposits in the Central and Western Regions, offers transformative opportunities for both national and regional development,” he said.
He noted that the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, developed by Atlantic Lithium Limited, remains the sector’s flagship, having advanced through feasibility studies, permitting stages, and state equity participation via the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
Puplampu added that multiple exploration licenses granted to other companies indicate rising investor interest and broader geological potential.
Puplampu explained that Ghana is shifting away from the traditional dig-and-ship model toward downstream processing and value addition.
“Under the Green Minerals Policy, companies are required to conduct studies to evaluate domestic conversion of lithium and by-products such as feldspar for the ceramic industry.
This approach aims to create industrial supply chains, generate skilled employment, and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions,” he said.
According to Puplampu, Ghana’s strategy balances investment attraction with national benefit. “The state’s equity participation through MIIF, strengthened local content provisions, and incentives for domestic processing ensure value retention.
Transparent governance, parliamentary oversight, and environmental safeguards provide investor confidence while promoting sustainable development,” he added.
Puplampu emphasized that as global demand for lithium surges, Ghana offers a stable, transparent, and strategically located alternative to dominant producers.
“By linking extraction with local processing and regional manufacturing under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ghana is positioning itself not just as a supplier, but as a co-developer of industrial capacity, contributing to a more resilient global lithium supply chain,” he said.
The Ghanaian delegation included: Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi (Technical Advisor, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources); Mrs. Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu (Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General & Ministry of Justice); Dr. Ahmed Tijani (Head of Corporate Affairs and IT, Minerals Commission); Mrs. Leona Serwah Johnson-Abassah (Chief State Attorney); Mr. Wisdom B. Puplampu (Assistant Manager, Research and Statistics, Minerals Commission); and Mr. Gabriel Gaanu (Manager, Mining Sector, Domestic Tax Division, Ghana Revenue Authority).