Mahama Ayariga has pledged complete transparency in Parliament’s upcoming consideration of major mining agreements, including the controversial Damang agreement, as public and political scrutiny intensifies over Ghana’s natural resource contracts.
The Majority Leader assured Members of Parliament that all documents related to the agreements would be made fully accessible before ratification, allowing lawmakers to thoroughly examine and compare the terms with previous mining deals approved by the House.
Speaking at the Leadership Media Brief on Friday, May 22, 2026, Mr Ayariga directly addressed concerns raised by the Minority and policy observers over transparency and fairness in the negotiation of mining agreements.
“There will be full transparency displayed in the House when we are considering these agreements,” he stated.
According to him, Parliament would conduct detailed comparisons between the Damang agreement and mining contracts approved over the past eight years to determine whether there were significant differences in structure, terms or national benefits.
The assurance comes amid heightened national debate over Ghana’s management of strategic mineral resources and concerns that some agreements may disproportionately favour foreign investors.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources withdrew several revised mining agreements from Parliament, including a high-profile lithium deal, following criticism from lawmakers and policy analysts.
Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister Yusif Sulemana explained at the time that the withdrawal was intended to allow for broader stakeholder engagement and further review before reintroduction.
The move followed mounting pressure from Minority MPs, who questioned Ghana’s negotiating leverage and the long-term national value embedded in some of the agreements.
Mr Ayariga’s latest comments appear aimed at calming fears that Parliament could be rushed into approving sensitive mining contracts without adequate scrutiny.
The Majority Leader urged the Minority to participate constructively in the review process, stressing that the government had nothing to hide regarding the agreements.
The Damang agreement is expected to attract significant parliamentary attention due to growing calls for Ghana to secure stronger economic returns from its natural resources amid broader debates on resource nationalism, local participation and fair value-sharing in the mining sector.
