Management of Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL) has signed a salt mining agreement with the Government to mine the Ada Songhor salt considered one of the best deals for the people of Ada, after a successful launch of operations by the chiefs and traditional leaders of the town.
The agreement which stalled after several unsuccessful attempts is expected to last for 15 years subject to renewal upon expiration.
The ratification of the leases is said to have brought endless excitement to the youth of the area, hoping that the aged long unemployment which has plagued them for several years, will soon be a thing of the past.
The District Chief Executive for Ada West, Adjoteye Larweh Akrofi explaining the importance of the contract said it’s a dream come true.
“I am so impressed, it’s a dream come true. I narrated to you shortly about how I have been involved in the struggle to get this Songhor Lagoon really developed because it’s an endowment and we need to turn it around. Without turning it around, people of Ada will continue to be poor and this means poverty is being kicked away right from today and this minutes so am so elated and so happy to be part of that process. Yes, certainly its offers the job of all kinds, you either directly employ here or indirectly. If you are not a worker over here, there are other things like you sell around and even those who own lands value shall be added to the lands that they have. We have the capacity to produce 2.33 million metric tonnes per annum which presently we are producing 60 metric tonnes so you can see the vast difference,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Ada, Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku, believes the good thing about the prospects of the salt production at Ada is that the area has the capacity to produce 1.4m metric tonnes (about 60%) of a total of 2.33 million metric tonnes production capacity for the whole country.
“On my behalf, that of the Ada Traditional Council, the priests, and priestesses, the sub-chiefs of the towns and villages, elders, youth and people of Ada, I want to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the President, Nana Akufo-Addo for this kind gesture.”
The existence of the Songhor Salt Lagoon has long served as a major source of livelihood for the residents but salt production has rather fallen to the lowest level due to both technical and managerial factors and about 10 percent of the original project area designated for salt production has been taken over by the community for artisanal salt production.
STORY BY JACOB NARH NORTAH.
Twitter handle: @NarhNortah
