ELECTROCHEM INTRODUCES OUTGROWER SCHEME TO CUSHION LOCAL MINERS.
Following violent confrontations over salt mining concessions in the Ada Songor lagoon, Electrochem Ghana Limited has established an outgrower scheme to partner local miners in the area.
During a joint committee comprising the Mines and Energy and forestry committees established by Parliament, among others recommended to ElectroChem, to allocate some space to local miners within its 41,000 acre concession
Despite parliament's rejection of the committee report, Electrochem has gone ahead to establish a cede 1,000 acres of its concession to some local miners to enhance its community relations.
Abdul Razak Adam, the CEO of ElectroChem Ghana Ltd
Mr Amos Martey Osabutey
Chairman,ADA Youth Forum for Development
Alfred Nokobi Huago
Chairman,Kakepem Salt Producers Association
Package met the joint committee to discuss a lasting solution to their misunderstandings.
On October 9th,2023, Member of Parliament for Sege Christian Corletey Otuteye made a statement in Parliament to draw the House’s attention to a clash between small scale miners along the Songhor lagoon enclave and officials of Electrochem Ghana Limited resulting in the death of a small scale miner.
Speaker Alban Bagbin referred the matter to the joint committee on Mines and Energy as well as Lands and Forestry with the mandate to among other things advise the House on the possibility of renegotiating the contract to leave some portions of the lease to indigenes to continue their small scale mining operations.
The committee after inviting stakeholders such as the Third World Network Africa,Ada Songhor Lagoon Association(ASLA),Dangme East Salt Producers Association(DESPA) and Naana Korleki Korley I, Tekperbiawe Divisional Queenmother and Electrochem Limited,
The commitee as part of its recommendations preferred that Electrochem Ghana Limited should consider allocating some of its space for the indigenes to continue mining operations and further assist these indigenes through the deployment of best salt mining practices in order to boost production.
Despite the House not yet approving the recommendations, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin gave further directives for consultations on the matter to be held.
In line with these deliberations at the Committee level, Electrochem Ghana Limited has rolled out an out-growers and land allocation scheme to cede 1,000 acres its concession to local miners to boost community relations and local indigenous production.
Chief Executive Officer of Electrochem Ghana Limited Abdul Razak Adams spoke on the importance of ceding these acreage to some seven communities witin the enclave to and called on other groups to join the scheme in order to foster the development of the indigenous communities within the area.
"I stand before you to launch our Community Out Grower Scheme – a transformative initiative designed to encourage direct community involvement in salt mining in line with our commitment to foster socioeconomic development in our host communities in a responsible and sustainable manner"
According to him, at Electrochem, they recognize that their success is deeply intertwined with the wellbeing of the communities they operate in.
"We are not just a company that extracts salt; we are a part of a larger ecosystem that includes you—our neighbours, our partners, and our future.
This Community Out Grower Scheme is a testament to our belief that together, we can achieve more." He said.
Some of the beneficiaries of this scheme also shared their thought and embraced the scheme.
Report by PKB
