Hundreds of artisanal salt miners in Ada have regained access to the Songor Lagoon after years of restrictions imposed by Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL). The miners, who were previously denied access to the lagoon, can now resume their traditional salt mining activities, bringing relief to over 30 communities that depend on salt mining.
The renewed access follows the natural crystallization of salt in the lagoon during the dry season, allowing unrestricted mining. Community members say they are now freely mining salt in areas outside EGL's designated factory concession, also known as the defunct Vacuum Salt/Songor Salt Project/Factory.
According to the residents, they were unfairly denied community mining in the lagoon since 2021 when EGL claimed ownership of the entire lagoon. "We are mining salt, and we are very happy," says Amakie Anim, a salt miner. "This is what we have been fighting for because our ancestors left it for us. Electrochem should also be at Vacuum and work there."
The return to normalcy follows investigative reports by The Fourth Estate, which exposed human rights abuses linked to the lease. Since the new government took over in January 2025, residents say security personnel who once enforced EGL's claim and harassed artisanal salt miners have disappeared, bringing back their livelihood.
"We don't know if the security forces have been permanently withdrawn or if they will return, but for now and since the new government took over, there is absolute peace here in Ada and our homes," Emmanuel Adabang, a salt miner and resident of Toflokpo, a community that has suffered a series of raids over the years, says.
The community leaders, however, want a permanent resolution. Vice-Chairman of the Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA), Nene Dadebom Anim II, urged President John Mahama to act decisively. "We call on His Excellency the President to take a decisive action to resolve the Songor Lagoon issue once and for all. We want the Masterplan to work," Nene Anim II, who is also the chief of Toflokpo-Salom, states.
He also demanded justice for victims of alleged brutality linked to the dispute. "There must be an investigation into the brutalities and killings of our people, including Korletey Agormeda, and Noah Dameh, who was incarcerated and later died. Others are still living with bullet wounds today, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice."
EGL has condemned what it describes as a "violent and premeditated attack" on its facility on January 9, 2025. The company alleges that a group of heavily armed and masked assailants stormed its premises, assaulting staff, ransacking offices, looting residential accommodations, and stealing large quantities of salt.
However, ASLA has strongly refuted claims by EGL that its facility was violently attacked and vandalized by armed assailants. ASLA's Deputy General Secretary, Ebenezer Adjaottor, describes the allegations as "baseless and must be treated with the contempt they deserve."
According to Adjaottor, artisanal miners did not invade EGL's facility to destroy property or steal salt, as the company claims. Instead, their actions were aimed at retrieving personal items, including tools and equipment, which had been unlawfully confiscated and hidden in the company's warehouse by EGL officials.
The dispute over the Songor Lagoon has been ongoing for years, with EGL claiming ownership of the entire lagoon and artisanal miners arguing that they have a right to mine salt in the area. The issue has sparked violent clashes between the two parties, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The Ada Traditional Council had engaged businessman Daniel McKorley (McDan) to revive the defunct Songor Salt Project, leading to a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) granting EGL control over 12,428 acres. However, Parliament later ratified an expansion to 39,126 acres, which EGL eventually stretched to 41,000 acres—covering the entire lagoon.
ASLA has petitioned the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee to investigate alleged corruption and state capture in the leasing of the lagoon. In February 2025, the group also petitioned Parliament through the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, to revoke EGL's control over the entire Songor Lagoon.
The situation remains tense, with both parties awaiting a resolution. The community leaders are hopeful that the new government will take decisive action to resolve the issue once and for all.
In conclusion, the regaining of access to the Songor Lagoon by artisanal salt miners is a significant development in the ongoing dispute over the lagoon. The community leaders are hopeful that the issue will be resolved in a manner that benefits all parties involved.
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