Residents from communities surrounding the Ada Songor lagoon call for an immediate review of the mining lease awarded to Electrochem Ghana Limited.
The lease, which permits Electrochem to mine salt in the region, has sparked significant unrest among locals who argue that their livelihoods, which depend on the lagoon, were not adequately considered.
Community members have criticized the mining lease, claiming it contradicts the objectives set out by PNDC Law 287, which originally sought to regulate the lagoon.
The government and involved parties have also been accused of allegedly using security forces to intimidate those opposing the project.
“The allocation of the Songor mining lease to a single company while denying residents the means to earn a living is unjust.
The residents expressed that we are on the brink of a serious conflict, with the community’s youth poised to take action if their concerns are not addressed.
Divine Agorho, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman for the Greater Accra Region, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that residents must benefit from the agreement. “Songor salt has been a crucial part of our livelihood.
We welcome investors, but the arrangement must ensure that local artisanal miners also have opportunities to sustain themselves,” Agorho said.
In response to the outcry, the Ada West District’s District Chief Executive (DCE) assured that efforts are underway to address the residents’ concerns.
“We are advocating for a portion of the 142,000 acres granted to Electrochem to be allocated to the locals so they can continue mining and support their families,” the DCE stated.
Parliamentary candidates from the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress in the Sege constituency have pledged to advocate for fair distribution if elected.
Daniel Keshi Bessy, the NDC candidate, expressed concern over the concentration of land under one company’s control.
“Depriving people of their work means stripping them of their livelihood. We will fight for a fair review,” Bessy asserted.
Dodzie Numekevor, the NPP parliamentary candidate, also criticized the lease arrangement.
“It is unreasonable to allocate 142,000 acres to one entity. According to Article 275 of the Constitution, natural resources are vested in the President and the government, but salt should not be classified in the same manner as minerals like gold.
Numekevor argued that a review of the lease is necessary to ensure that some portion is reserved for local use.
The controversy over the lease has led to ongoing protests against Electrochem Ghana Limited.
The agreement, ratified by Parliament in November 2020, grants the company exclusive rights to salt mining in the Ada Songor Salt Lagoon for the next 15 years.
However, a joint parliamentary committee has yet to find factual or legal grounds to alter the mining leases granted to Electrochem Ghana Limited.
