The long-standing dispute over the Ada Songor Lagoon has resurfaced, with residents and salt miners calling on government and parliament to investigate alleged attacks linked to the concession granted to Electrochem Company Limited. They are also seeking a review of the company’s operational license.
The Songor Lagoon, one of Ghana’s largest salt pans, has sustained livelihoods in Ada for generations through a traditional communal harvesting system that ensured equitable access.
However, the concession awarded to Electrochem has stirred tensions, with critics insisting it sidelines the very people whose survival depends on the lagoon. Residents claim that salt harvested under the concession now struggles to attract buyers, with vast quantities abandoned to “cake” on the pans, exposed to the elements.
Opinions within the community remain divided. Nene Osusey Akwerh II, Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council Chiefs’ Association, defended Electrochem and its chairman, Daniel McKorley, saying the company “has no bad intentions for the community and does not seek to harm Ada.” He urged calm, dialogue, and support for industrial-scale production.
But others, including victims of earlier clashes, remain unconvinced. Nene Dadebom, who was assaulted during disturbances following the concession award, insists justice has not been served. “We have petitioned parliament many times to review Electrochem’s license and to investigate the attacks, but nothing has been heard. We are pressing harder now because we want answers. We want parliament to act, and we want government to intercede,” he said.
Residents say their frustration is compounded by unmet political promises. They recall that before coming to power, then-NDC candidate and now President John Mahama assured the people of Ada that he would review the concession. With Mahama back in office, they are demanding he deliver on that pledge.
Civil society groups have also weighed in, warning that continued silence from government and parliament risks fueling further tensions. They stress that the dispute goes beyond salt production, touching on resource governance, community rights, and trust in political leadership.
For now, the Songor Lagoon remains at the centre of one of Ghana’s most sensitive resource battles, as Ada residents await decisive action from both parliament and the presidency.
Source: Emmanuel Cudjoe
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