The government has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting the seamless operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited in the harvesting of salt at the Songhor Lagoon in Ada of the Greater Accra Region.
This commitment was underscored by a working visit from the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, George Mireku Duker on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
The visit by George Mireku Duker, which allowed him to access first-hand information about the company and its operations in the area, is in furtherance of the government’s resolve to ensure that the company and residents of the area enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that spurs the growth of the area and Ghana at large.
The working tour included a comprehensive visit to the mining site, where the Deputy Minister and his delegation from the Ministry and the Minerals Commission received a detailed briefing on the salt mining process.
They were guided through the entire operational sequence, gaining a thorough understanding of the meticulous steps involved in extracting salt from the Songhor Lagoon.
Speaking to the media after the tour, Mr Mireku Duker made a heart warming disclosure that Electrochem Ghana Limited will soon list on the Ghana Stock Exchange to allow Ghanaians to invest in it.
He stated that the listing of Electrochem is a testament to the accountability and transparent credentials of the company.
He commended the Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, management, and staff for the visionary and landmark Electrochem Project, which has so far created over 1,800 direct jobs in the area and seen an investment of $80 million.
He was particularly awed by the local content representation in the company.
With the company expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, Mr Mireku Duker called for an all-hands-on-deck approach, with a special appeal to some of the disgruntled residents from the various Ada communities to come on board and ensure the success of the company.
The Deputy Minister noted that since its arrival, Electrochem Ghana Ltd has shed positive light on the people of Ada and made them a topic of global interest as well as a beacon of positive news for the area.
He took stock of the socio-economic impact of the Songhor project on the area and the country at large, noting that the company is generating significant revenue for the MIIF.
He believes that a strong and collaborative relationship between mining companies and communities in catchment areas is crucial to the effective harnessing of the resources and therefore counselled mining companies to consider those communities as key and indispensable partners in their activities.
Mr Duker commended the company for embarking on a journey to build a refinery, explaining that the initiative is in line with the government’s policy of moving Ghana from raw material exploitation to value addition.
He concluded with an appeal to the company to create a trust fund that allows the communities to enjoy direct benefits from the revenue generated from salt mining. He believes that such an initiative will help strengthen the relationship between the company and the various communities.
“I’m so impressed and happy that we are building local champions in the industry. I believe McDan must be motivated and encouraged, and I also want to appeal to the people to support this enviable project. This project is one of the best in Africa, and per what has been indicated to me, they are producing not less than 650,000 metric tons, ramping it up to a million next year and two million subsequently. If this is realized, then we are talking about creating millions of revenue and jobs.
“The Songhor has a history of litigation because the people of the area have not benefitted enough, but if we take into cognizance how this project is progressing, then obviously the people are going to earn more. In terms of CSR, their projects are quite impressive. They’ve injected $3 million into getting women into trade, some sporting facilities they have constructed for them, and other facilities they intend to do for them. These are projects that will impact the people,” he told the media after the tour.
Speaking on behalf of the company, the Group CEO of McDan Group of Companies, Mr. Kwaku Ampromfi, commended Hon. Mireku Duker for the visit, noting that the Tarkwa-Nsuaem lawmaker has been consistent with his support for the company.
He explained that the company is taking pragmatic measures to continue its expansion and also deliver on its CSR commitments to the communities to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of their resources.
Nene Agudey, the Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council, said that Electrochem’s arrival was an answer to years of prayer from the indigenes for effective harnessing of their resources.
He assured that the traditional authorities will continue to work with the company to resolve the stand-offs and ensure that the salt is harnessed for the development of Ada and Ghana.