ElectroChem Ghana Limited has been advised to continue allocating space within its concession area for local miners.
This arrangement aims to promote local participation in salt mining in a mutually beneficial manner for both the company and the indigenous community, according to a parliamentary report.
The joint report by the Committees on Mines and Energy, and Lands and Forestry, which reviewed submissions from various stakeholders, recommended that there is no legal or factual basis to review the three Mining Leases ratified by Parliament on November 6, 2020.
The report, pending approval by Parliament, emphasizes the importance of local mining operations adhering to environmental laws and practices sanctioned by the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
ElectroChem Ghana Limited has initiated significant commercial activities in the Ada Songor Salt Lagoon, investing US$88 million in the first phase of the 41,000-acre salt project.
Despite these developments, there have been local disputes over the ownership of the mineral, leading to tensions and even fatalities. This situation prompted a statement in Parliament and a subsequent referral by the First Deputy Speaker to the Joint Committees for further investigation and reporting.
The Committees recommended that ElectroChem Ghana Limited assist the local community in adopting best practices in salt mining to avoid devaluing the concession area and to maintain production levels.
Continuous stakeholder engagement is necessary to address misconceptions about salt ownership. The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) should launch an educational campaign to inform locals that salt, like gold in the Ashanti Region, petroleum in the Western Region, and bauxite in the Eastern Region, is a national resource.
The Joint Committee also suggested that Members of Parliament organize local educational tours and durbars to further this objective. Political figures are advised to avoid exploiting national assets for political gain and instead support the development of national resources.
Security engagement is crucial to ensure that local communities understand the benefits of lawfulness in facilitating national projects with export potential.
Parliament and the NCCE should lead these efforts, with chiefs, stakeholders, and police educating the community that acts against ElectroChem Ghana Limited are confrontations with law enforcement. National projects, including Ashanti Goldfields’ gold mining operations, function successfully due to this fundamental understanding.
By Eugene Davis
