Chief of Terkpebiawer Clan in Ada and a leading member of Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA), Nene Dadebom Anim II, has stated that owners of the Ada Songor Lagoon will not heed the ultimatum issued by ElectroChem Ghana Limited owned by Daniel McKorley and therefore continue to win salt in the Lagoon since it has remained the only source of livelihood for the indigents.
He made the assertion at a press conference held on Wednesday 11 January 2023 at Bornikopey in the Ada West District in Greater Accra Region to address a statement issued by McDan Group of Company on 14 November 2022 that the company will drive the indigents out of the Lagoon after 31 January 2023 for the company to continue its operations in the lagoon.
“McDan has been given a place to work in the Lagoon and we entreat him to focus on his territory because we will not vacate our vast portion for him to operate. He alone cannot feed us and our subjects; this is the source of livelihood of the people. You McDan have no right to be here, your presence in Ada is illegitimate and you cannot give us any ultimatum”, he asserted.
Nene Dadebom Anim II who is also the chief of Salom, has also reiterated that ASLA is prepared to resist any attack by the mining company to forcefully deny the indigents of their livelihood this year, and therefore ready to intensify legal actions and demonstrations against McDan’s ElectroChem because he has abused the right of the people in several degrees.
The Divisional Queen Mother of Terkpebiawer Clan, Nana Korleykie Korley, has also stated that the lease agreement entered into by some chiefs of Ada and ElectroChem Ghana Limited to produce salt in the lagoon is illegal since the chiefs signed the concession without the concern of their kingsmen.
“We are asking the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to conduct a thorough investigation into how ElectroChem paved the way to Parliament for the eradication of the Lagoon”.
“This investigation should also explain how the company also claimed 41000 acres of the Lagoon instead of the less than 10,000 acres agreed upon and signed for him in Parliament” she requested.
The Queen mother also requested the government to cancel the lease agreement between ElectroChem and the unauthorised chiefs of Ada.
Nana Korlekie also expressed dismay over the atrocity meted out to the community members at the enclave of the Lagoon by ElectroChem when they seek the details of the lease agreement that is excluding them from access to their natural property.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
