Accra, Ghana — The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, has directed the Mines and Energy Committee to revisit its report on the ongoing dispute between Electrochem Ghana Ltd and indigenous salt miners at the Ada Songor Salt Lagoon.
The Speaker expressed dissatisfaction with the Committee’s findings, noting that the report failed to address key concerns raised by some stakeholders.
The dispute between the investor, Electrochem, and local salt miners has become a contentious issue, with both sides claiming rights over the lagoon’s resources. The Committee’s report, which was presented to Parliament, was adopted but with a mandate for further investigation into unresolved matters.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin emphasized that the report did not capture the full spectrum of issues, particularly those that had been brought to his attention by affected parties.
He instructed the Committee to delve deeper into several critical areas, including the validity of additional lease agreements for Ada West and Ada East; The application and relevance of PNC Law 287, and its implications for Electrochem Ghana Limited’s leases and future operations; Compensation for affected parties; Further engagements with all relevant stakeholders.
Tensions flared when the Ranking Member of the Committee, Al Hassan Sohuyini, criticized the report, claiming that it did not reflect the views of the Committee members. He alleged that the Chairman, Samuel Atta Akyea, had unilaterally authored the report without the knowledge of the other members.
In light of these concerns, the Speaker’s directive aims to ensure a more comprehensive and fair resolution to the impasse.
The Parliament has since adjourned sine die and is expected to reconvene in October to conclude its work before the 8th Parliament’s term ends, with the general elections scheduled for December 2024 fast approaching.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
