By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
The Ada Traditional Council in Greater Accra Region has condemned an act of vandalism that occurred within Electrochem’s site following the 2024 elections.
Early Thursday morning at around 3:00 a.m., intruders broke into the company’s premises and overpowered the security personnel, seized their mobile phones and vandalised the warehouse.
They stole equipment such as water pumps, brand-new car tyres, fuel drums, refrigerators, motorcycles and car batteries. The attackers also destroyed properties, including CCTV cameras.
Although the cost of damages is yet to be fully assessed, preliminary estimates place it in the hundreds of thousands.
The Council strongly criticised the incident, describing it as a politically-motivated action with potential to strain the cordial relations between the company and its host communities.
The traditional authority noted that Electrochem has significantly contributed to the development of Songor Lagoon and salt mining over the past four years. The company has supported community development through corporate social responsibility initiatives, including interest-free loans for women.
It said that that any attempts to disrupt the company’s operations are unacceptable and should be addressed through legal means.
The Ada State Mankralo, Nene Agudey Obichere III, stated that – like gold – salt is a natural mineral resource that belongs to the state. He called on government to provide security support for the Songor salt mine, similar to measures in place for mining concessions.
“Electrochem has operated legally and supported the community by allocating about 2,000 acres of land for community mining, instead of the 600 acres outlined in the masterplan. It has also invested in AstroTurf for sports and youth skills development. These are just a few examples of its contributions and we fully support its operations until the end of the 15-year lease term,” he said.
He made this statement at a press conference in Ada, where he briefed media about the incident and need for the state to take urgent measures which protect legitimate businesses, particularly indigenous ones.
The Operations Manager of Electrochem Ghana Limited, Nene Siada Odeopeor, revealed that although no arrests have been made yet, CCTV footage from the site captured some of the perpetrators – who are identified as known community members affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the Operations Manager, the attack occurred around midnight on January 8, 2025.
