Parliament urged to maintain existing Salt Mining leases of ElectroChem

The Joint Committee on Mines and Energy, and Lands and Forestry, has released its findings following a Parliamentary inquiry into tensions surrounding salt mining activities in the Ada Songor Lagoon.

The report, which comes in the wake of a deadly clash between small-scale miners and security forces employed by ElectroChem Ghana Limited, urges against any legal or factual review of the mining leases ratified by Parliament in November 2020.

The inquiry was prompted after a confrontation between locals and ElectroChem officials on November 6, 2023, led to the death of Numo Korletey Agormedah, a local salt miner. This incident followed a broader call by residents for greater inclusion in the salt-mining activities carried out in their ancestral lands.

It would be recalled that ElectroChem Ghana Limited, part of the McDan Group, was granted leases to mine salt in the 41,000-acre Ada Songor Lagoon, a salt-producing site.

Since the commencement of their operations, the company is estimated to have invested approximately US$88 million into the development (the first phase) of the lagoon for large-scale salt production.

However, tensions have escalated as indigenes, who have traditionally relied on the lagoon for salt production, have expressed concerns over their exclusion and the environmental impact of large-scale operations.

The Joint Committee, led by Samuel Atta Akyea and Francis Manu-Adabor, tasked with reviewing the leases, visiting the Songor site, and advising Parliament on the possibility of revising the contracts, delivered a set of 10 key recommendations aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute.

Key recommendations

  1. No legal basis for lease review: The committee concluded that there is no legal or factual basis to review the three mining leases ratified by Parliament in 2020. Any such move could jeopardize Ghana’s legal commitments and create uncertainty in the mining sector.
  2. Local participation in mining: The committee advised that ElectroChem should “farm out” portions of the mining area to indigenes to promote local participation. This approach would ensure that the community benefits directly from the resources of their land.
  3. Compliance with environmental laws: The committee emphasized that any small-scale mining by locals must adhere to the environmental laws and best practices as stipulated by Ghana’s Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This step is critical in preserving the ecological balance of the lagoon while ensuring sustainable mining practices.
  4. Best practices for locals: ElectroChem is also encouraged to assist indigenes in adopting best salt mining practices to ensure the concession area remains valuable and productive.
  5. Continuous stakeholder engagement: To dispel any misunderstandings about the ownership of the salt resource, the committee recommended ongoing stakeholder engagement. A broader dialogue with the local communities could help mitigate conflicts and create a shared understanding of the project’s benefits.
  6. Enhanced security measures: Given the ongoing resistance from some locals, the committee urged the authorities to increase security engagement with the communities.

However, it also stressed the importance of peaceful resolutions, noting that lawlessness could hamper the development of a national resource that holds significant export potential.

  1. Investigations into death and compensation: The committee called for a thorough investigation into the killing of Numo Korletey Agormedah, with the police ensuring that those responsible are prosecuted. Additionally, it recommended compensation for the families of Agormedah and another individual who was wounded in the confrontation.
  2. Resolution of minor disputes: Chiefs and community leaders should take the lead in resolving minor complaints related to salt mining, in order to defuse tensions within the community.
  3. Clarification of concession boundaries: Any disputes regarding the survey and extent of the concession should be referred to the Minerals Commission for resolution.
  4. Increased social interventions: As ElectroChem’s fortunes improve, the company should broaden its social intervention programs to tackle poverty and improve livelihoods in the affected communities.

During deliberations, representatives from the Dangme East Salt Producers Association (DESPA) and the Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA) voiced concerns over the extent of the ElectroChem concession, which they argue deprives locals of their traditional livelihoods.

ElectroChem’s Managing Director, Dr. Daniel McKorley, acknowledged these concerns and promised to yield portions of the concession to locals for salt production.

ElectroChem has also initiated social interventions, benefiting communities such as Nakomkope, Agberfo, and Adumakope.

However, the Joint Committee recommended that these efforts be expanded as the company scales up its operations.

Source : B&FTonline