Parliament has waded into the almost 4-years disturbances in Ada over the Songor Lagoon causing unrest within the Ada enclave.
But the Public Relations Officer, ASLA, Mr. Abraham Ahumah maintained that parliament’s poor ratification of PNDC law 287 accounts for the nearly 4-years of unrest within the Ada Songor enclave.
According to him, the unwarranted disturbances wouldn’t have occurred if parliament had not misapplied the said law and offered all three concessions to ElectroChem Ghana Limited thereby depriving indigenes of their livelihood.
The PRO stressed, “we cannot survive without the Songor Lagoon. It is our blood and our survival depends on it”.
For some members of ASLA, the parliamentary intervention does not only seem cosmetic but to cover embers of fire with soil for a seeming peace in the run up to elections 2024.
Their comment comes at the back of a meeting with parliament and aggrieved parties in Ada including management of McDan’s ElectroChem Ghana Limited.The first historic meeting seeks to iron out issues in a bid to foster peace and co-existence among indigenes within the enclave.
According to him, parliament’s decision to ratify the PNDC 287.has done nothing but disservice to the country and people of Ada.
The PRO intimated that the people of Ada were co-existing until parliament signed contract to lease their livelihood to ElectroChem Ghana Limited, an act which he believed has caused unmerited assaults, brutalities and killings of Adaalis( people of Ada).
That notwithstanding, he expressed appreciation for the efforts of Parliament to hear their grievances even though he claimed much time was not offered them to make their submissions.
The PRO sternly warned that they( people of Ada) will not succumb to any arrangements aimed at luring and compelling them to back off the fight for their livelihood.
According to him, people of Ada are convinced in their stance that the indigenes who have lived on the Ada Songor land for centuries should be justified beneficiaries of a good portion of land for their sea salt farming.
Proposing a road map for calm, he urged government to reconsider the decision to monopolize the total land area of 41,000 acres in the hand of McDan’s ElectroChem Ghana Limited.
He described claims by management of McDan’s ElectroChem Ghana Limited that the company has supported women with interest-free loans as falsehood.
He quizzes, “Which company in its senses will contract loan with interest and offer same to women without interest?”.
While he popped the assertion by the company that the salt produced were of high quality, he described it as “dark as the ground” and not fit for purpose urging the public to disregard.
In conclusion, he urged government to as a matter of urgency abrogate the contract for the 41,000 acres and allow many companies and associations to also hold concessions within the area.
