The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the work of the joint parliamentary committee assigned to investigate issues surrounding the controversial Songhor salt mining agreement between the Government of Ghana and Electrochem Ghana Limited.
The Speaker’s critique comes after some indigenes of Ada petitioned Parliament to address concerns about alleged abuses and breaches of the lease agreement by the company.
Speaker Bagbin, in a session of Parliament, took issue with this report, stating that the committee’s investigation was inadequate and did not fulfill its mandate. According to him, the committee made several critical omissions, including its failure to visit the Songhor site, a key aspect of their terms of reference.
“The committee report stated that members had postponed a visit to the site for a later time, but this contradicts the terms of reference given to the committee.”
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin
Speaker Bagbin stressed that without a site visit, the committee could not have fully appreciated the concerns of the local population or assessed the impacts of the mining operations on the ground.
Speaker Bagbin also raised concerns about the lack of proper stakeholder consultation during the committee’s investigation. He revealed that certain key documents and papers, which could have offered critical insights into the situation, were ignored by the committee.
“These unacknowledged papers were not reflected in the report, which raises questions about how well the committee engaged with all relevant parties,” the Speaker Bagbig added.
This lack of consultation, he suggested, contributed to the failure of the committee to fully address critical issues raised by the people of Ada, such as the impact on employment and the local economy.
The report did not provide adequate recommendations for resolving unemployment and livelihood concerns, which have been recurring issues for the affected communities.
Key Issues Overlooked
In his critique, Speaker Bagbin highlighted several other key issues that were not properly addressed in the committee’s report. One of the major points of contention was the extent of the land allocated to Electrochem Ghana Limited under the lease.
He pointed out that a large portion of the concession had already been in use by local residents, raising questions about the fairness of the land distribution and its impact on local livelihoods.
Additionally, Speaking Bagbin questioned the validity of the supplementary lease agreements covering both Ada West and East districts. The leases in question total 140 acres, and the Speaker suggested that the legitimacy of these agreements needed further scrutiny to ensure that they were lawful and in the best interest of the local population.
Another major point of concern raised by the Speaker was the application of PNDC Law 287, which governs mineral resource development in the country. He argued that the implications of this law for Electrochem Ghana Limited’s leases and future operations in the lagoon area had not been sufficiently analyzed in the committee’s report.
One of the most pressing concerns for the Speaker was the issue of compensation for individuals and communities affected by Electrochem’s operations. Many locals have reported losing access to the lagoon, which they rely on for their livelihoods, particularly in salt mining and fishing.
Speaker Bagbin directed Parliament to engage further with stakeholders to determine a fair compensation process for those affected by the mining activities.
In light of these omissions and shortcomings, the Speaker called for a fresh investigation into the matter. He instructed the formation of new committees to revisit the issue, ensuring a more thorough and comprehensive investigation that takes into account the concerns of all stakeholders.
Electrochem Ghana Limited was granted a lease by the government to manage salt mining operations in the Songhor Lagoon, a resource-rich area with significant economic potential.
However, some members of the Ada community have raised complaints about the company’s activities, citing negative impacts on the environment, livelihoods, and perceived violations of the terms of the lease.
Their petition called on the committee to thoroughly investigate these issues and provide recommendations to address the situation.
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