Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL) has revealed a growing international confidence in its Ada Songor Salt Project, with investors from the United Arab Emirates, France, the United Kingdom and Austria expressing interest in acquiring stakes in its planned $500 million expansion programme.
According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Francis Buamah, discussions with prospective investors have intensified over the past six months as Electrochem seeks funding to expand production and modernise its infrastructure.
He explained that the expansion programme would finance engineering works, the automation of pump facilities, the construction of pipelines and a jetty, the procurement of vessels and barges, the completion of a salt refinery and the establishment of a caustic soda plant, the acquisition of mining equipment, and the creation of a research-oriented university.
This came to light when Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) called for greater equity investment in Electrochem, expressing satisfaction with the scale of investment and the progress achieved so far under the Ada Songor Salt Project.
The call followed a visit by a delegation of CSO leaders to the company’s operations in Ada, where they met with management, traditional authorities and community stakeholders to assess developments at one of West Africa’s largest salt-mining projects.
The CSOs commended Electrochem for the significant investments over the past five years and described the project as a major catalyst for industrial growth, job creation and economic transformation in the Ada area and beyond.
Mr Buamah said investors view Ghana’s salt industry as a strategic gateway to the African market, which makes Electrochem an attractive investment destination.
“We’ve had investors from the United Arab Emirates, France, the United Kingdom and Austria who are interested in the salt business and see Ghana as a gateway to the African market,” he said.
He added that participation in the Electrochem project provides access to a continental market of more than 1.2 billion people, making the investment proposition highly competitive.
Speaking during the engagement, the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Owusu Hene, alias “Kofi Kapito”, said that Electrochem’s level of investment had positioned Ada as a leading salt development hub on the African continent.
He noted that the company had demonstrated a strong commitment to developing the country’s salt industry and to creating opportunities for economic growth.
While praising the progress achieved, Mr Kapito urged management to continue engaging with local communities through dialogue and education to deepen understanding of the project’s benefits and address concerns among some residents.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between the company and host communities would help build trust and secure broad-based support for the initiative.
The Chairman of the Board of Electrochem Ghana, Kofi Abotsi, also emphasised the importance of aligning private investment with national development objectives.
He said that investments in the Songor project must create value not only for shareholders but also for the Ghanaian people through job creation, industrialisation and community development.
Mr Abotsi described stakeholder engagement as critical to ensuring that investment-driven growth delivers sustainable benefits to local communities and meaningfully contributes to Ghana’s economic aspirations.
Traditional authorities also welcomed the growing investor interest in the project.
Addressing participants, the Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council described the Songor Lagoon as one of Ghana’s most strategic natural resources, capable of producing millions of tonnes of industrial salt annually.
He referred to the 1991 Master Plan, developed by local and international experts, which proposed a sustainable and coordinated framework for salt production through structured lagoon management, investor collaboration and community participation.
The Council explained that the government’s 2019 decision to lease the Songor concession to Electrochem Ghana Ltd followed years of advocacy and recommendations aimed at reviving the salt industry and accelerating economic development.
Nene Agudey Obichere III also addressed misconceptions about Electrochem’s operations, emphasising that the company’s activities remain aligned with the broader goals of sustainable development, community participation and lagoon restoration.
The Ada Traditional Council commended Electrochem Ghana for its ongoing investments in job creation, potable water supply, women’s empowerment programmes, and broader community development.
The Council further called for Government support and commitment, peaceful dialogue, unity, stakeholder collaboration, and law enforcement to ensure the sustainable development of the Songor Lagoon for future generations.
The CSO visit was part of broader efforts to strengthen stakeholder engagement and deepen public understanding of Electrochem’s operations, as the company pursues an ambitious expansion expected to increase annual salt production to one million tonnes.
The project is also expected to play a key role in Ghana’s industrialization drive while creating jobs and economic opportunities for residents of Ada and surrounding communities.
