Attack On Electrochem Ghana Is An Attack On Progress, Stop It- Atta-Akyea To Residents Of Ada

The Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee in Ghana’s Parliament, Samuel Atta-Akyea has observed that, any attack on Electrochem Ghana limited, a salt mine project at the Songor enclave in Ada is an attack on the progress of Ada and must not be allowed to fester.

He described as an act of lawlessness the opposition by the few residents of Ada against the project which is an attempt to undermine the progress of the company and the area.

The chairman has therefore warned such enemies of progress to as a matter of priority desist from engaging in any retrogressive venture to derail the gains made by Electrochem Ghana for the development of Ada and Ghana as a whole.

Mr Samuel Atta Akyea gave the caution during a visit of the Mines and Energy committee to the salt mining site at Sege last Friday November 17, 2023 following a directive by the Speaker of Parliament.

The visit according to the directive by first deputy speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu is to enable the committee investigate the November 6, 2023 feud between some irate youth of Toflokpo and security officers guarding the site and make recommendation for the consideration of plenary for a lasting solution.

The mines and energy committee chairman expressed his personal resolve of ensuring that people who are against progress are dealt with.

“My pain is hearing that there are some people who believe that if they don’t undermine this enterprise with our personal interest, they won’t be happy. It also means that if we should just put together a very vile conspiracy and commit some crimes and even kill somebody, that is their pleasure. We cannot have that lawlessness, undermining an undertaking that can bless the entire country.”

“So I am using this opportunity to sound a note of caution to those who believe that this whole Ada traditional area should not improve—when you have an investor who wants to improve the lots of the people. When they will seize some of the production lines for you to go produce and even create a ready market, and then they buy it off you. And then somebody who believes that this undertaking should be undermined. That lawlessness will have to cease. And this is one of the things that I, as the chairman of the committee, will take up at the highest level so that this country should not have people who want to undermine progress,” he stated.

On his part, Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor commended the huge investment made by Electrochem Ghana into the project and assured that the committee would work at creating a win-win situation for all to guarantee a peaceful and business-friendly atmosphere.

Since the inception of Electrochem, some residents in the area have complained that its operation in the area would deny them their livelihoods despite efforts of the company at ensuring inclusiveness.

Each community have been provided with community mining pans whiles all identified mining associations have also been allocated separate sites within the concession to carry on their activities but the opposition against the project still persists.

By; Christian Kpesese