Ada residents intensify calls for review of mining lease granted Electrochem

Persons from communities along the Ada Songor lagoon are demanding an immediate review of the mining lease granted to Electrochem Ghana Limited to mine salt in the area.

According to them, the mining lease did not take into consideration the plight of the locals whose sole livelihood depends on the Songor lagoon.

They further argued that the Electrochem project does not fall within the objectives for which the PNDC law 287 took over the lagoon. They accused the government and those involved in the project of using the security agencies to intimidate those against it.

“Giving the Songor mining lease to one company and not allowing the people to make a living is unfair. We are sitting on a timebomb and what will happen is that the youth in the community will rise and that time is fast approaching,” the residents lamented.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman in the Greater Accra Region, Divine Agorho demanded that residents must benefit from the agreement.

“Songor salt has been our main source of livelihood, and I don’t think anyone here is against an investor coming over to take over and manage the company, that is not what we are saying. In God’s creation, the elephant must eat, and the ant must also eat. Investors come in, hurray we like the idea, but the arrangement must be such that the artisanal miners around that community must also have the facility to eat.” Divine Agorho argued.

In an inclusive interview with TV3 during its community engagement with electorates in the Sege constituency, the District Chief Executive of the Ada West District says measures are in place to accommodate the needs of residents.

“What we are looking for is a portion of the 142 thousand acres that have been given to Electrochem, a portion of it should be given to the locals so that they can also mine and have something to feed their families. That has been our argument.” The DCE indicated.

Parliamentary candidates for both the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress in the constituency say they would work tirelessly to ensure constituents get their fair share should they win the elections.

“The committee’s report is accepted now, but we will still go back for review. Our people will come out strong and lawfully we will be more vociferous than now. Every right-thinking Ghanaian knows that when you deprive the people of work, you have taken their livelihood so what do they survive on?” Daniel Keshi Bessy the Parliamentary candidate for the Sege constituency question.

“I don’t think 142 thousand acres should be given to one man, it’s just not right. If you look at article 275 of the Constitution which vests all natural resources in the President and the government, you cannot classify salt as a mineral just as you classify gold. So, I think the lease should be reviewed again so that some can be given to the people.” Dodzie Numekevor, NPP Parliamentary candidate for Sege Constituency asked.

 

The residents have been protesting against the lease granted to Electrochem Ghana Limited to mine salt in the area.

Parliament in November 2020 ratified the mining agreement empowering the company to undertake salt mining in the Ada Songor Salt Lagoon for the next 15 years.

A joint parliamentary committee says there is no factual or legal basis to enable the government to seek to interfere with three mining leases granted to Electrochem Ghana Limited.

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Writer: Frederick Kunzote-Ani

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