Violent Clash At Ada, One Person Dies After Being Hit with Stone by Fellow Resident
ADA – A violent clash erupted between residents of Songor who were illegally mining salt from the Songor Lagoon, resulting in a deadly brawl over boundaries. The Metro Lens Newspaper has received information that one person lost his life during the altercation, allegedly after being struck with a stone from one of their own people.
Earlier reports had suggested that the deceased had been shot, but the latest verified information confirms that he was indeed hit with a stone. The incident occurred during an attack on Electrochem Ghana Limited in Ada Songor, where individuals believed to be thugs and hooligans, allegedly employed by Atsiakpo (Salt Galamseyers), stormed the Alorgonkpor community to target workers and officials of Electrochem.
These same hooligans had reportedly attacked members of the Bonikope community just a week prior, destroying a community polytank that had been purchased by Electrochem to alleviate the severe water shortage faced by the community. The victims of the attack also suffered property damage as a result.
According to eyewitness accounts, the hooligans launched their assault on the Electrochem site while some company officials were conducting prospecting activities under police protection. The attackers fired gunshots and threw stones, leading to the tragic death of the individual who was hit by a stone.
It is worth mentioning that a few months ago, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated the $80 million Electrochem Ghana Ltd. Salt Mine and Washing Plant in Sege, located in the Ada East District. Operated by the McDan Group, Electrochem Ghana Ltd. is a wholly Ghanaian mining company that has obtained a concession of 41,000 acres at Ada Songor, with the capacity to produce 1,000,000 metric tonnes of salt annually.
This project is not only the largest salt and chlorine-alkali manufacturing company in West Africa but also one of the major players in the global salt industry. Currently, the mine produces 650,000 metric tons of salt per year, with plans to increase this capacity to one million metric tons by 2024 and two million metric tons by 2025, making it the largest salt-producing facility in Africa.
It should be noted that certain sections of the Ada community have previously expressed their discontent over the government’s decision to award the Songor salt redevelopment project to Electrochem Ghana Limited under the McDan Group. Despite the controversies surrounding the lease, the company remains committed to its work, as evidenced by the recent official commissioning. However, dissenters have once again resorted to vandalizing company properties and attacking officials.
The Metro Lens Newspaper will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.