Near-term lithium producer Atlantic Lithium has taken a significant stride to strengthen its leadership team with the appointment of Ghanaian mine operator Ahmed-Salim Adam as its General Manager of Operations to ensure operational excellence at the Ewoyaa Lithium Project, which is on track to become Ghana’s first lithium mine.
With an impressive career spanning over 15 years across various large-scale projects, where he has been responsible for all facets of mine development, production, and closure, Mr. Adam brings to Atlantic Lithium a wealth of experience that will be fundamental to the optimisation of the Ewoyaa Project.
His role will involve the continuous review and implementation of processes and systems to enhance the financial and operational performance of the Project, which is set to deliver benefits worth multiple billions of dollars to Ghana’s economy, notably to the Central Region communities that surround the Project.
Prior to joining the company, Mr. Adam held a number of leadership roles in Ghana, including as a Senior Consultant of Metallurgy at GEOMAN Consult Ltd; as a Director for FGR Bogoso Prestea Ltd’s Refractory Project; and as General Manager at Golden Star Resources Ltd.
Mr. Adam, who studied at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Ghana, earning a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mineral Engineering and a Masters of Philosophy in Minerals Engineering, boasts a track record of success in managing technically challenging operations, with a focus on safety and sustainability in all activities. His expertise extends to change management to deliver financial and operational improvements, optimal resource allocation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management within organisations.
The Ewoyaa Project, which was granted a Mining Lease in October, enabling Atlantic Lithium to advance the Project towards production, is expected to create over 800 direct jobs in the construction phase and 900 once in operation.
The company is already one of the leading employers and tax-payers in the Central Region.
Forecast to produce 3.6Mt of spodumene concentrate over the 12-year life of the mine, Ewoyaa will become one of the top 10 hard rock spodumene mines in the world, putting Ghana on the map as a globally significant producer of lithium.
Described as “a Ghanaian project for Ghanaians”, Mr. Adam’s appointment to oversee the Ewoyaa Lithium Project firmly reemphasises Atlantic Lithium’s commitment to hiring locally and adhering to Ghana’s Local Content Regulations to ensure that maximum value from the Project is kept in-country.
Commenting on Mr. Adam’s appointment, Aaron Maurer, Head of Operational Readiness at Atlantic Lithium, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Ahmed-Salim to the Atlantic Lithium team at this important juncture. Ahmed-Salim brings extensive experience in major project management, particularly in Ghana, which will be vital to ensuring Ewoyaa is a successful and safe operation. His focus on sustainability and proactive local stakeholder engagement closely reflects Atlantic Lithium’s own approach as a responsible, modern mining company.
Ahmed-Salim’s appointment is also reflective of the impressive calibre of talent within the mining sector in Ghana. As the first lithium company in the country, we are very proud to be in a position to hire highly skilled Ghanaians to work on a project that will bring long-lasting socio-economic benefits to their home country. With a pipeline of significant milestones ahead of us, I look forward to working closely with Ahmed-Salim to ensure the successful operation of Ghana’s first lithium mine.”
