The Jubilee House has promised to look into a petition by residents of Ada, in Greater Accra asking that government halts the operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited from mining salt in the area.
The mining lease according to the people of Ada did not take into consideration the economic plight of the locals whose sole livelihood depends on the Songhor lagoon.
Although residents of Ada have organised several protests against the lease which is aimed at revitalising the Songhor Lagoon, the demonstration in the capital city marks the first of its kind.
Presenting a petition to the Deputy Chief of Staff after a demonstration, the residents said the government must intervene.
Emmanuel Adumoah Bossman commended the protestors for a peaceful demonstration and assured them of a swift investigation to bring peace and justice to the area.
“The president has sworn an oath to protect the interest of natural persons like yourselves and legal persons like companies, so we will look into it and see where the merits are and what needs to be done. The president will react accordingly,” he said.
In November 2020, the government of Ghana leased the lagoon to the private company, EGL. The company, in its work plan, said it will produce over a million metric tons of salt per annum mainly for the export market. Its ambition is to make the Songhor salt mine the largest in Africa.
But residents insist the takeover had been their worst nightmare as they have lost their livelihoods and are unable to cater to the basic needs of their families.