The Chiefs and people of Big Ada in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra region, on Wednesday morning, hit the streets to demonstrate over what they say is gross illegality in the Ada Songor lagoon basin concession agreement between Government and Electrochem Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the McDan group of companies, which gives the company the monopoly to mine salt in a landscape of 1548.4 square kilometer.
Wednesday’s demonstration which drew indigenes from over 40 towns and villages within the Ada Songor lagoon basin enclave, was a follow-up to several press conferences held by the people of Ada to kick against the issuance of 3 license to Electrochem Ghana Limited to mine salt.
Demonstrators who held placards with messages ” We Don’t Want Shootings in Songor Again, “McDan Listen to Advise Else You’ll waste your money” amongst others, called on government to revoke the agreement.
Some leaders of the demonstrators including the salt priest of Ada also known as Libi, who claimed they were not consulted by the Minerals Commission before giving out the over 39, 633.78 acres of concession to Electrochem, want government, to as a matter of urgency, either review or revoke the agreement, failing to do so, will compel them to forcefully take over the concession by close of February.
Chief of the Toflokpo-Salom Traditional Area, Nene Dadebom Anim II, wants government to revert to the master plan signed by cabinet in the 70s which gives equal rights and access to the lagoon. He opined the decision by government to allocate such a vast concession to Electrochem, does not sit well with the interest of the people in Ada.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Philip Azu
