Post and pre-election violence which originates from the assertion that vacancies in key agencies resulting from the loss of an election should be filled by supporters of the victorious party – sometimes achieved through violence – not only mars the beauty of democracy but reinforces the winner-takes-all syndrome that has become a bane in our forward march as a nation.
These instances giver rise to anxiety as expressed by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), which has condemned the violent raid on Electrochem Ghana Limited’s Ada facility, the country’s largest private salt mining company, warning of its detrimental impact on investor confidence.
The Chamber raised concerns about the insecurity affecting private businesses and the impunity with which legitimate investments were being vandalised ahead of the 2024 elections.
These actions have raised concerns about the risk and uncertainty of doing business in Ghana – especially during times of change in government. President-GNCCI Stephane Miezan, who led the Chamber’s delegation to the salt mine in Ada recently, said this is not just disastrous to Electrochem but also to the investor community, the business sector and the nation as a whole.
“As government plans to scrap some taxes, the burden will shift to the business community to fill the funding gap. If we target the very businesses that generate these taxes, what will happen to the country’s development?” he queried.
Kweku Ampromfi, Group Chief Executive Officer-Electrochem Ghana Limited, said that international business partners have expressed concerns over recent events – clearly indicating their fear of losing future investments due to similar incidents.
“We had partners and investors expressing interest from around the globe, but they are now asking questions about the safety of investment and human capital which are valid – and so this is a bad development for Ghana on the international market.”
On January 9th 2025 some community thugs invaded the Ada Songor Salt Mine of Electrochem Ghana Limited, vandalising properties and making away with some valuable items. This is quite unfortunate when one considers if we target the very businesses generating tax revenue, what happens to the country’s development prospects?
