McDan’s Electrochem Salt Mining has legally acquired the Ada Songhor to do salt mining in Ghana. The aim is to mine the salt and export about 60% of the production and 40% to be remained for local consumption.
The company’s vision is to mine and elevate the community from poverty and also create an enabling environment and opportunities for co-producing the salt industry.
However, the vision of company is under threat following action by members of incoming administration to undermine its operations with connivance of some natives in the Ada area especially the youth who clashed with security operatives at the mining site, forcing them to evict the area and abandoned their duties.
This follows a widely reported secret meeting held by stalwarts of NDC on 15th December, 2024 At the Fiesta Royal Hotel in Accra to push the company away from the Ada Songhor land in spite of the authorization of the salt mining company by government owned by Mcdan, to do business in the area not only for profit gains but also for the benefit of the locals.
Reports are also rife that certain NDC MPs together with the two MPs elect in the area are engaged in deliberate attempts to undermine the company’s operations and its reputation. These entities and individuals are reportedly encouraging and inciting individuals to encroach the McDan’s salt concession for illegal mining activities. They believe this will leave the company with no choice than to call on security personnel for an intervention at the displeasure of the illegal miners creating a room for a pandemonium.
In a video that went viral, some youth in Ada confronted security personnel stationed at the salt concession to protect encroachment. After the confrontation with the security personnel, they went back to the community to assault people they believe support the company’s activities so as to put fear on them.
Meanwhile, Electrochem Ghana remained resolute, resolved in focusing on operations to produce more salt for the country without any intimidation from any wicked force bent in thwarting the efforts of the company.
Electrochem Ghana has legally acquired Ada Songhor Salt with over 78,000 acres of lands stretched, to mine salt for 15 years in the Ada traditional area, ratified by Parliament of Ghana.
Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL) as a company has recently risen to the challenge by marking historic milestones in the salt industry. These milestones include the establishment of a large-scale salt industrial area, arguably the first of its kind in West Africa: A sizeable pump station for its intake operations, and a trial export of salt to the region.
The company commenced operations in January 2021 with a steely resolve to revamp the Songor Salt project, a national asset, to produce 1,000,000 metric tons of first-rate salt (of 99.9% purity) per annum to serve both the local and export markets.
Electrochem Ghana Ltd has established strategic partnerships with both local and international organizations with the relevant technical expertise in the industry, including a strategic international partner with over 62 years of experience, a firm of global renown with the deep technical know-how of the integral process of salt mining.
Within 18 months of operations, the company has integrated the concept of mechanisation to complement its robust local community development. “Ada Salt” which Electrochem produces has been known as one of the best in Africa—in quality, grade, and density—and it is the mainstay of the local community in Ada.
Story by: Inusah Dondaliya
