Manklalo Of Ada Laments Politicization Of Electrochem’s Local Mining Scheme

The Manklalo of Ada, Nene Agudey Obitchere III has disclosed that Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL) had planned to enroll local salt miners in the Ada Traditional Area on an out-grower scheme that provides access to modern way of salt mining.

However, the plan, according to him, has become moribund due to political interference.

Nene Obitchere III mentioned that after the construction of community pans, indigenes expressed concerns about their insufficiency, and in response, EGL intended to allocate another concession to them and provide them with free brine for their salt production, with the company offering a ready market to purchase the salt.

However, political influence and the ensuing insults and hullabaloo derailed the plan.

“I remember that we went to the communities to engage the indigenes, but we were hooted at with beatings of gallons, and so we couldn’t continue with the plans as traditional authorities,” he explained.

Speaking in anterview, Nene Agudey said the plan of the traditional authorities is to get a portion allocated to the local miners, which was their reason for going to the communities to ask for calm, which resulted in their chase out and insults due to what the indigenes heard from political figures.

He touched on the recent parliamentary joint committee’s report, which, as part of the recommendations, asked for a portion for the indigenes to mine and will be regulated by Electrochem, a statement he said fell in line with the plans of both the traditional council and the EGL.

“We, as traditional authorities, have been vindicated by parliament, and we are patiently waiting for parliament to finalize everything. Then we take it from there. In spite of everything, remember, we all want the progress of Ada and the people, and so we would not drive away development yet; we would not allow politics to set the community ablaze,” he spoke. 

Nene Obitchere indicated that the Ada Songor Lagoon had been defaced, leading the indigenes to seek assistance from traditional leaders before approaching the president for help. This intervention ultimately led to the establishment of Electrochem.

“What made the lagoon fertile was the dike of clay, which served as a seat for salt formation or crystallization; yet, the indigenes dug out the seat, and the lagoon became muddy with silt. Some even ended up digging wells in the bed of the lagoon, making it lose its natural look and importance,” he disclosed.

He appealed to the indigenes to support the project, as it intends to fast-track the development of Ada.

GNA