Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Samuel Atta-Akyea, has characterised the opposition by Ada residents against Electrochem Ghana’s salt mining operations as a lawless attempt to hinder the company’s progress.
He cautioned residents to refrain from engaging in activities that undermine the firm’s advancement.
Over the years, Ada residents have raised concerns that the company’s operations in the area would jeopardise their livelihoods.
A conflict on November 6 resulted in one fatality at Toflokpo and numerous injuries during a shooting incident, prompting Parliament to initiate an investigation for a lasting solution.
During the committee’s visit to the salt mining site at Songor, Samuel Atta-Akyea emphasised his commitment to addressing entities that impede progress.
“My pain is hearing that there are some people who believe that if they don’t undermine this enterprise with their personal interests, they won’t be happy. It also means that if we should just put together a very vile conspiracy and commit some crimes and even kill somebody, that is their pleasure. We cannot have that lawlessness, undermining an undertaking that can bless the entire country.”
“So I am using this opportunity to sound a note of caution to those who believe that this whole Ada traditional area should not improve—when you have an investor who wants to improve a lot of people. (sic) They will seize some of the production lines for you to go produce and even create a ready market, and then they will buy it from you.
“And then somebody believes that this undertaking should be undermined. That lawlessness will have to cease. And this is one of the things that I, as the chairman of the committee, will take up at the highest level so that this country should not have people who want to undermine progress,” he stated.
The Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, however, said the committee would take steps to ensure a win-win situation for a peaceful and business-friendly atmosphere.