MP For Sege Calls For Dialogue Between Electrochem And Residents

The Member of Parliament for Sege, Christian Corleytey Otuteye has called for cool heads to prevail following the violent clashes that ensued between residents of Toflokpo, one of the salt mining communities in the Ada Songor enclave and personnel of the Ghana Police service on Monday November 6, 2023.

The police personnel were providing security for workers of Electrochem Ghana limited who were on their normal working duties in the Toflokpo concession of the company before some irate youth from the community numbering almost three hundred attacked them violently.

Reacting to the unfortunate development in an interview on the Eye Witness News of Citi fm, the Sege lawmaker who described the incident as sad said dialogue is the solution to prevent the situation from further escalating.

The MP said he knows Electrochem’s aim is to bring development to the people but believes it is important for the people to be carried along the project.

“It’s really a bad day and a sad one for the Sege constituency. I went there personally to see the situation. I went with the Regional commander. We took the dead body to the morgue. It looks as if we are playing with this thing.”

“It started with a huge violence years back. It looks as if as the days pass by, the situation is becoming worse. I know Electrochem wants to bring development. I think there is something definitely wrong, and the area is becoming a war zone. The youth were very angry when I went there. The people are also fighting for their daily bread. I’m not against the development which Electrochem is doing, but the people you are doing it for must enjoy what you are doing. Dialogue must come in,” the Sege legislator added.

The Electrochem Ghana Ltd, Ada Songor Salt mine project was commissioned recently by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The company currently employs some 3,000 workers.

Background

The Ada Songhor Salt Project was constructed in the 1970s as the largest in sub-saharan Africa and was later vested in government of Ghana in 1992.

The project was however rift several challenges especially lack of investment it to thrive.

Following a parliamentary approval in accordance with provisions of Article 268(1) of the Constitution and Section 5(4) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), Electrochem Ghana Ltd, the investor obtained a long term lease in 2021 for mineral rights to dig for, mine and produce salt for the total redevelopment of the Ada songor enclave.

The investor was expected to pay on or before the execution of the agreement, an annual mineral right fee of US$100,101.00 to the Minerals Commission.

Per the agreement, Electrochem Ghana Limited was also liable to pay royalty every quarter in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and an annual ground rent to the state represented by the Lands Commission and also allow members of the local community, to exercise customary rights and privileges such as hunting and snaring of game, gathering of firewood for domestic purposes, collection of snails, farming and observation of rites in respect of sacred areas in and over the licenced area.

By: Christan Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com