Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I, Queen of Adibiawe, Ada
Electrochem awarded 15-year mining lease by Parliament
The Songor Salt project will produce two million metric tons of salt per year
Political interference of the project will hamper development – Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I
The Queen Mother of Adibiawe of Ada in the Greater Accra Region, Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I, hailed the ongoing work of the Songor Salt project as key to creating jobs in the Ada community.
According to her, salt exploration undertaken by Electrochem Ghana Limited on the Songor Lagoon has already improved livelihoods and community development hence the growing tensions and political interference in the project which will hamper development. .
Speaking on Peace FM’s Krokroo Morning, Naana Adiki Manyeyo Adi I stressed the importance of the project and called for unity to prevail.
“The importance of this lagoon is very vital for the development of this city. This lagoon has been here with us for over 40 years and the fact that the government is providing a mining lease to explore the salt resources of Songor Lagoon and surrounding communities is very commendable and economically good,” the Queen Mother said.
“This project, in turn, will create more jobs for young people and bring development to our communities and so it is very important to avoid political interference in this project,” she added.
The Queen Mother continued, “It is important to note that regardless of which political party is in power, the Songor project is for the benefit of all who live in that community and not just for a specific government as some suggest.”
The Queen Mother further commended Electrochem for establishing a community fund to support indigenous people, especially women in the community, and the plans put in place for responsible mining practices to protect the environment.
“As part of Electrochem’s commitment to the wider Ada community, it has instituted a support fund with an amount of GH¢3,000,000 in interest-free loans to women entrepreneurs to grow their various businesses.”
“I am part of the youth but I have been given the green light to be a queen mother and this is the time when we have to accept projects that will develop our state for generations yet to be born to benefit as well because Ada is lagging behind in terms of development,” the Queen Mother added.
Since the beginning of the project, some members of the Ada community have disagreed on the project.
Meanwhile, in October 2020, Parliament granted a 15-year mining lease to Electrochem Ghana Limited to explore the salt resources of Songor Lagoon and surrounding communities.
The company planned to produce two million metric tons of salt per year for the long term.
So far, the Ada Songor Salt project is said to have produced 60,000 tons of salt in 2020.
Electrochem Ghana Limited managing director David Cameron previously said the company was on track to produce over 200,000 tonnes by the end of 2021 after investing over $50 million in the project.
