The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, involved unidentified persons storming the company’s warehouse, sites, and offices.

Reports indicate that the attackers ordered workers on duty to vacate the premises, seizing their mobile phones before beginning their rampage.

A visit to the site revealed significant damage, including stolen finished salt products and vandalized trucks. Items such as pumps, motorbikes, car tires, and other equipment were also reported missing.

The Ada Divisional Police Commander, ACP Joseph Atsu Dzineku, confirmed the attacks in an interview, explaining the delay in arrests despite the scale of the incident.

Electrochem’s Operations Manager, Nene Ode-Opio Siada, lamented the extensive damage caused by the attack.

He disclosed that CCTV footage captured the large number of individuals involved.

“The company has been hit hard. This is a severe blow to us,” he said.

In a related development, some residents of Boni-Kope have reportedly been assaulted in what appears to be a follow-up incident linked to the attack on the company.

Police investigations are ongoing as authorities work to track down the perpetrators and restore order in the area.

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Madam Cudjoe claimed that Electrochem has recruited soldiers who have begun causing disturbances in the community, and appealed to Parliament to intervene to present a full-blown conflict.
However, Mr Adam stated that the soldiers on site were not there to cause harm to anyone but to protect the company’s investments.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Midday News on September 5, the CEO said “I want to completely refute that allegation and also to state on record that it is not true.

“What is happening is that fact that there are police and there is also a military base in our area that is on standby to make sure that workers are not harassed. The police and the military have not attacked anybody,” he said.

He assured that Electrochem has no intention of uprooting anyone or destroying any shrine in the community.

On the contrary, Mr Adam stated that the lawmaker was making these comments based on incorrect information.

In light of this, he advised the legislator to visit the site to verify the claims about the company.

“Some of the people that are opposed to this have not even gone to the ground especially some of the lawmakers have not even gone to the ground to ascertain what is going on. Most of the things they are saying are through anonymous calls. People who have met them privately and told them stuff.

“They have to come to the grounds and get into the community and you will realise that almost 99% of the Chiefs are for this project,” he said.

Meanwhile, during parliamentary proceedings, the Speaker of Parliament called for an investigation into the matter.

The CEO of Electrochem described this directive as a step in the right direction, as it would put an end to all the allegations against the company.

Source: Myjoyonline

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A parliamentary joint committee recently reviewed a petition by some residents and the salt mining company operating in the community.

The committee encouraged the company to allocate some sites to the residents.

The company agreed, noting that this aligns with its short- and long-term objectives.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin had ordered a joint committee to address the impasse.

The parties appeared before the committee and were encouraged to resolve the disputes and cede some sites to the residents.

In a brief ceremony, Electrochem handed over sites to seven identified groups, including chiefs, youth, women, and queen mothers, for environmentally friendly mining of high-quality salt.

Razak Abdulai Adam stated that, the company had earmarked 2,000 acres for these groups. Seven groups have completed the process, with ten more in progress, all set to benefit from the new model.

He stressed the importance of coexistence and the goal of producing quality salt with a stronger market chain.

Beneficiary groups expressed optimism, noting that this development represents a new dawn.

They anticipate being able to engage in responsible mining and access a ready market from the company, unlike before.

The Ada Traditional Council acknowledged the company’s efforts to transform the area, expressing appreciation for the initiative.

Source: Ohene Amponsah

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This commitment was underscored by a working visit from the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, George Mireku Duker on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

The visit by George Mireku Duker, which allowed him to access first-hand information about the company and its operations in the area, is in furtherance of the government’s resolve to ensure that the company and residents of the area enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that spurs the growth of the area and Ghana at large.

The working tour included a comprehensive visit to the mining site, where the Deputy Minister and his delegation from the Ministry and the Minerals Commission received a detailed briefing on the salt mining process.

They were guided through the entire operational sequence, gaining a thorough understanding of the meticulous steps involved in extracting salt from the Songhor Lagoon.

Speaking to the media after the tour, Mr Mireku Duker made a heart warming disclosure that Electrochem Ghana Limited will soon list on the Ghana Stock Exchange to allow Ghanaians to invest in it.

He stated that the listing of Electrochem is a testament to the accountability and transparent credentials of the company.

He commended the Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, management, and staff for the visionary and landmark Electrochem Project, which has so far created over 1,800 direct jobs in the area and seen an investment of $80 million.

He was particularly awed by the local content representation in the company.

With the company expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, Mr Mireku Duker called for an all-hands-on-deck approach, with a special appeal to some of the disgruntled residents from the various Ada communities to come on board and ensure the success of the company.

The Deputy Minister noted that since its arrival, Electrochem Ghana Ltd has shed positive light on the people of Ada and made them a topic of global interest as well as a beacon of positive news for the area.

He took stock of the socio-economic impact of the Songhor project on the area and the country at large, noting that the company is generating significant revenue for the MIIF.

He believes that a strong and collaborative relationship between mining companies and communities in catchment areas is crucial to the effective harnessing of the resources and therefore counselled mining companies to consider those communities as key and indispensable partners in their activities.

Mr Duker commended the company for embarking on a journey to build a refinery, explaining that the initiative is in line with the government’s policy of moving Ghana from raw material exploitation to value addition.

He concluded with an appeal to the company to create a trust fund that allows the communities to enjoy direct benefits from the revenue generated from salt mining. He believes that such an initiative will help strengthen the relationship between the company and the various communities.

“I’m so impressed and happy that we are building local champions in the industry. I believe McDan must be motivated and encouraged, and I also want to appeal to the people to support this enviable project. This project is one of the best in Africa, and per what has been indicated to me, they are producing not less than 650,000 metric tons, ramping it up to a million next year and two million subsequently. If this is realized, then we are talking about creating millions of revenue and jobs.

“The Songhor has a history of litigation because the people of the area have not benefitted enough, but if we take into cognizance how this project is progressing, then obviously the people are going to earn more. In terms of CSR, their projects are quite impressive. They’ve injected $3 million into getting women into trade, some sporting facilities they have constructed for them, and other facilities they intend to do for them. These are projects that will impact the people,” he told the media after the tour.

Speaking on behalf of the company, the Group CEO of McDan Group of Companies, Mr. Kwaku Ampromfi, commended Hon. Mireku Duker for the visit, noting that the Tarkwa-Nsuaem lawmaker has been consistent with his support for the company.

He explained that the company is taking pragmatic measures to continue its expansion and also deliver on its CSR commitments to the communities to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of their resources.

Nene Agudey, the Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council, said that Electrochem’s arrival was an answer to years of prayer from the indigenes for effective harnessing of their resources.

He assured that the traditional authorities will continue to work with the company to resolve the stand-offs and ensure that the salt is harnessed for the development of Ada and Ghana.

The Energy and Lands Committee recommended to the House that there should be no review of the mining lease granted to the company.

This is despite allegations of police and military brutalities against the indigenes, which have led to the death of a miner and injuries to many.

The people of Ada have also complained about the lease awarded to the company, which has displaced many of the indigenes from their small-scale salt mining activities in the area.

MP for the area, Christian Corletey Otuteye, who first spoke against the committee’s report, decried what he described as the monopoly granted to Electrochem to mine salt in the area, pushing the indigenes out of business.

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The Committee said this after making a number of recommendations.

The Committee recommends that Electrochem Ghana Limited consider continuing with the allocation of some space to the local miners within the concession area in an arrangement that is mutually beneficial to the company and the indigenes to promote local participation in the salt mining undertaking.

“The local mining so permitted should be undertaken according to the environmental laws and practices as sanctioned by the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. ElectroChem Ghana Limited should assist the indigenes in the deployment of best salt mining practices in order not to devalue the concession area and lower production.

“There is the necessity for a continuous stakeholder engagement to persuade those who are fighting the roll-out of a national resource under the mistaken belief that the indigenes owned the mineral called salt,” it states.

The Committee further stated that it is imperative that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) embarks upon a massive educational campaign in the Salt Mining Area to bring indigenes to the realisation that salt is a natural mineral and not a local means of livelihood, in the same category of gold in the Ashanti Region, petroleum in the Western Region and bauxite in the Eastern Region.

“The Members of Parliament of this Joint Committee should organise local education tours and durbars to further achieve the object. Political pandits should desist from making political capital out of the use of national assets for the development of the nation Ghana rather than inciting indigenes to believe that they are being robbed by the Government of the day.

“There should be a serious security engagement in the communities for them to come to terms with the fact that it is in the best interests of Ghana and the local communities to desist from any form of lawlessness to pave the way for a national undertaking with export benefits to function at full throttle.

“Parliament and NCCE should be the arrowheads in this regard. The indigenes should be educated by their chiefs. stakeholders and the police that the Nation Ghana has a stake in ElectroChem Ghana Limited and its salt mining business in Ada Songhor and any acts of lawlessness against the Company is a direct confrontation with Law Enforcement Agencies in Ghana.

“All national undertakings over the country including the gold mining business of Ashanti Goldfields are operational because of this basic understanding. The police should continue with the investigation of the death of Numo Korletey Agormedah who was allegedly killed on the 6th day of November 2023 and prosecute the perpetrator(s) of the said crime.

“All minor criminal complaints associated with the salt mining business which can be resolved between the complainants and the culprits to tone down tension in the salt producing environment.

“The chiefs should take up such peaceful initiatives. Any survey challenge relating to the extent of the concession should be brought to the attention of the Minerals Commission for investigations.

“ElectroChem Ghana Limited should enlarge their social intervention activities as their fortunes improve to bankroll poverty in the communities. ElectroChem Ghana Limited in the roll-out of this immensely significant national project should desecrate cemeteries, fetish houses and places within the concession area,” the committee stated.

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This move is aimed at attracting potential investors to expand the company’s opportunities.

During an industrial tour organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the CEO of Electrochem Ghana, Abdul Razak Adam, highlighted the company’s commitment to the upcoming listing and encouraged interested investors to anticipate it eagerly.

“If you talk about high-quality salt, it is right here in Ghana and nowhere else because the potential is there. The giant step has already started. This is locally owned.”

Mr. Abdul Razak also added, “This is locally managed. So, this is probably the largest single investment company. This is owned by a Ghanaian. This company will be listed in three months right here in Ghana. What that implies here is that every Ghanaian can go and buy shares and own a piece of the company.”

He mentioned the uses of salt, including the production of caustic soda, and POP designs adding that “currently, Ghana imports POP and that [the production of salt in Ghana] will help in our construction industry.”

“We are shooting for September, or October, for the company to be listed,” he added.

Additionally, the CEO of Electrochem Ghana Limited disclosed that the company has received significant endorsement from the Ada community, overcoming initial resistance from locals in Ada, where its large salt mining operation is located.

“In an industry like this there will be a few people who won’t like this, but it doesn’t matter. If nobody is against you at all, that means you are not doing anything great. So that base said, we have achieved over 95% community acceptance because we have come in.”

“We have improved the lives of the people not only generating employment for them. The facilities you see around you. We’ve employed up to 5000. Next year, we have a potential capacity of employing up to 10,000, “he hinted.

He disclosed that the company will continue to provide community pans for the indigenes as a replacement for their traditional method of mining salt.

On the other hand, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of AGI, Tsonam Akpeloo, urged its members and other business owners to consider building networks and taking an interest in investing in the supply chain of salt mining.

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Justice Malike Awo Woanyah Dey, the presiding judge, dismissed the application, which was seeking an order to restrain the defendants, their agents, assigns, and privies from forcefully evicting the plaintiffs and their subjects from their land pending the final determination of the suit.

A certified true copy of the ruling given on April 16 available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noted that the plaintiffs, Nene Amatey Korley Adegu II, the Chief of Aminapah; Nene Simon Odorkorteye, Acting Chief of Puteh; Nene Nartey Tsirapah, Acting Chief of Midie; and Nomo Akunyumu Akoto, Acting Chief of Kwalakpoyom, filed the suit against the three defendants on January 17, 2024.

They sought the three reliefs of interlocutory injunction, award of cost by the court against the defendants, and any others that the court may deem fit.

However, the court, in its ruling, stated, among other things, that to convince the court to grant the relief prayed for by the counsel for the plaintiffs, there must be evidence of a legal right that ought to be protected.

It added that the rights of the plaintiffs or applicants could not override the rights granted to Electrochem, which, according to the company, would bring development to the salt industry for the general good of the people.

“Thus, on this material condition of proof of a right which ought to be protected, I believe the plaintiff applicants have failed to establish that they have any legal or equitable right that ought to be protected according to law by this court, “the judgement said.

It explained that considering the totality of the evidence before the court and the rights of the parties, the court finds that Electrochem would suffer greater hardship when the application was granted because there was evidence that so much money had been expended even in the process of the acquisition of the license, coupled with the fact that it had a limited period of 15 years within which to mine the salt.

“I am also of the opinion that the community will also suffer in relation to the opportunities that the said project has in terms of development and the industrial nature of the project.

“Another point is that even if the court grants an injunction, there might be a further suspension of the legal rights of the 3rd defendant in terms of the relief endorsed on the writ, which seems to be in perpetuity. Thus, if it takes Parliament a long time to deliberate, the respondents must wait,” it said.

The court stated that it believed the disadvantages that could occur when the application was granted would be enormous compared to the disadvantages when the application was refused.

Therefore, the court held the opinion that in the circumstances of the case, it would be highly unreasonable to grant the application even in terms of the relief endorsed on the writ of summons, because not even the court could tell when Parliament would finish reviewing the said agreement, “that is, even if they are doing so.”

Meanwhile, the court did not award any costs against any of the parties.

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While such projects have the potential to uplift communities and transform lives, they are often met with resistance and fear of the unknown.

In this feature story, we explore the transformative power of embracing change and highlight the untapped opportunities that lie within Electrochem’s project, waiting to be seized by the locals.

When a major project like Electrochem’s salt-mining initiative comes into a community, it is not uncommon for the indigenes and locals to harbour reservations and concerns.

The fear of the unknown can be overpowering, and the prospect of change can be intimidating.

While some justifications for protests may exist, the bigger picture is often overshadowed, leaving the potential benefits in the hands of others.

As negativity engulfs the air, the locals fail to recognize the golden opportunities that lie before them.

The refusal to embrace change results in missed chances to escape the clutches of poverty and to thrive alongside the prospering project.

The youth, in particular, unknowingly overlook the possibilities for personal and communal growth.

Eyes on the prize

What if the communities surrounding Ada shifted their focus from the project’s perceived negatives to the boundless opportunities it presents?

Imagine if families began to prepare their children for roles that the mining project demands – courses related to salt mining such as chemistry, chemical engineering, finance, accounting, procurement, etc.

The benefits that these preparations portend are as good as your guess.

By fervently preparing themselves for these opportunities, families can become active participants in the economic boom that Electrochem’s project can bring.

For instance, young students graduating with degrees in relevant fields can find themselves in high demand, becoming key assets to the company and the community at large.

This can lead to increased employment rates, better-paying jobs, and a rise in the overall standard of living.

As the project thrives, the ripple effects on the community are extensive.

Infrastructure improvements, better healthcare facilities, educational advancements, and enhanced social services become attainable goals.

The empowerment of locals through skill development and job creation transforms the once-resisting community into an industrious and prosperous one.

Environmental consciousness

Beyond economic growth, Electrochem’s salt-mining project can instill environmental consciousness.

By collaborating with the company, locals can ensure that mining practices are carried out sustainably, protecting the delicate coastal ecosystem and preserving the beauty of Ada for future generations.

The story of Electrochem’s salt-mining project in Ada, Ghana, serves as a testament to the transformative power of embracing change.

When communities shift their perspective from fear to opportunity, they open doors to a future brimming with possibilities.

By nurturing local talents, investing in education, and working hand-in-hand with companies like Electrochem, the indigenes of Ada can carve a path to prosperity and rise above the confines of poverty.

The key lies in recognizing the potential of these projects and fervently preparing to seize the opportunities that they present.

As Electrochem paves the way for a brighter future, the people of Ada have the power to make this vision a reality.

This comes after an exercise carried out in the Ada District by the ECG Revenue Taskforce, discovered that the company had owed power debt accrued over the years.

But the management of the company, interacting with journalists, explained that the debt situation was an inherited one after it took over the premises.

They added that the company had inherited a debt about GH¢2 million over eight years from the previous occupants of the premises – a large chuck which they indicate has been paid by Electrochem.

“All though the situation is unfortunate, we have to put on record that when we took over Songor, the lights were off for about eight years with over GH¢2 million power debt which was inherited. We have since paid a large sum of it and want to assure that we are keen on settling all outstanding owed to the ECG,” the management explained.

Prior to the disconnection exercise, the ECG taskforce also cut the power supply of some three other privately-owned businesses in the Ada District.

They include Moonlight Fresco Limited, which is a banana producing firm; and fish farming company, Frosell.

The other company, which was impacted by the exercise was Kemmat Hotel, which is said to have owed over GH¢200,000 in debt on its six power meters.

Further, the ECG on March 20, 2023, embarked on a nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise.

The company is targeting to collect a debt of about GH¢5.7 billion owed by various ministries, departments and agencies, state-owned enterprises, postpaid and prepaid customers across the country.