By Stanley Kwabla Arku
09/09/2024
The Terkperbiawe Clan, Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA), and the Dangme East Salt Producers Association (DESPA) have called for the immediate termination of mining leases granted to ElectroChem Ghana Ltd. At a press conference held on the sacred grounds of Yomo, the Salt Goddess, leaders from the community voiced their opposition to ElectroChem’s controversial activities, which they claim threaten their cultural heritage and livelihood.
Representatives of the Terkperbiawe Clan, led by Divisional Chief Nene Korley IV and supported by Queen Mother Naana Korlekie Korley I, expressed gratitude to Parliament for addressing their grievances but criticized ElectroChem’s listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The Ada leaders argue that the leases granted to ElectroChem violate PNDC Law 287, which mandates inclusive salt production involving both small and large-scale producers.
“We will continue to fiercely challenge the legitimacy of these illegal leases and agreements in the law courts,” said Nene Korley IV. He added that the lagoon, which has sustained the Ada people for generations, must be protected from exploitation by external entities.
The leaders condemned ElectroChem’s new “Out Grower’s Scheme,” accusing the company of deceiving the public with land-sharing promises while continuing to sideline the community. “ElectroChem cannot give us what is rightfully ours by birth,” Nene Korley IV declared, asserting that the Ada people would not be pacified by what they see as hollow gestures.
The press conference also highlighted the alleged failures of the Ada Traditional Council, accusing its members of aligning with ElectroChem for financial gain at the expense of the community’s well-being. The leaders called for the faithful implementation of the Master Plan for Salt Development, as enshrined in PNDC Law 287, to ensure peace and prosperity for all inhabitants of the Songor Lagoon Basin.
As tensions continue to rise, the Ada community remains determined to protect the sacred Songor Lagoon. “We are prepared to fight until the last drop of blood to protect Yomo, the Salt Goddess, and the essence of Ada,” declared Asafoatserngua Glorgo Dadebom Anim V, Chief Warlord of the Terkperbiawe Clan.