By Our Reporter
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Chief of Ada has expressed gratitude to the President, Nana Ad do Dankwa Akufo-Addo for working to ensure the ratification of the mining leases to the Ada Songhor Salt Project.
Addressing a Press Conference on behalf of the Chief, Mankralo of Ada Nene Agudey Obichere said the people of Ada have over the years been deprived of access to the river for both fishing and salt mining.
This, he said had fueled tension and outrage resulting in conflict with their grantees.
According to him, in 1985 government cancelled the lease agreement and set up the Songhor Salt Project to continue with the salt mining but the project was deprived of resources.
Nene Kabu Akuaku III, said he made several speaks to the relevant authorities over the lease agreement until recently, President Akufo-Addo worked on the processes and sent three mining lease agreements to Ada Songhor Salt Project through the Minerals Commission and the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources to Parliament for ratification.
“I am further delighted to say that Parliament, after going through its due process has ratified these agreements in favour of Electrochen Ghana Limited (EGL) associated with our preferred investor,” he said.
He revealed that by the new development the Project and EGL have agreed to engage engineers to demarcate and set aside specific areas for local mining in consultation with stakeholders.
He said, EGL is obliged to do large pans in these areas that will be identified which upon mining will be sold back by his people at prevailing prices to EGL.
The Chief also indicated that to meet its Local Content obligations, EGL is mandated to source its skilled and unskilled labor force first from Ada, the Ada traditional authority will have representatives on the Board to oversee the smooth running of the project.
He also averred that all the ten clans in Ada shall be beneficiaries of a Chief’s palace complex.
He urged residents in and outside Ada to have confidence in the project and ensure that it benefits the entire Ada.
Mr. Micheal Martey, Production Coordinator for EGL stressed that they are targeting production of salt from 130,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes within two years.
He also pointed out that the community involvement of production will be high in order to generate employment in the area.
