Ada chiefs call on president-elect Mahama to intervene in Songor lagoon attacks

By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu

Kasseh-Ada, Dec. 31, GNA – The Ada Community Chiefs Association has called on President-elect Mr. John Dramani Mahama to intervene in a series of attacks on the Ada Songor lagoon, which holds a salt extraction concession.

The association alleged that inciteful comments from some executive members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ada were fueling such attacks.

They made the call at a press conference held at Kasseh-Ada addressed by Nene Dameh Sewu III, Chief of Togbloku Okor and Executive Secretary of the association, condemning the recent disturbances that occurred on December 23, 2024.

According to them, their investigations revealed that the recent disturbance was a meticulously planned and calculated attempt to disrupt the peace of Ada, driven by political interests.

The association alleged that ahead of the elections, the then parliamentary candidate of NDC, now Member of Parliament-elect for Sege, Mr. Daniel Keshi Bessey, declared their intention to take over the Songor Lagoon at Bornikorpe.

It added that based on this declaration and others, a group of persons entered the Songor Lagoon to destroy the evaporators restored by Electrochem Ghana Limited, with an intention to create tension, adding, however, the military peacefully diffused a situation that could have gone out of hand.

“We call upon the current government, the incoming administration led by President-elect John Mahama Mahama, to take decisive action against these perpetrators. Their actions are a direct threat to the peace and development of Ada and must not go unpunished,” they appealed.

They called on the agitated community members to support the operations of the salt mining company, as their operations in the area have brought significant development to Ada through direct and indirect employment.

“This must be condemned unequivocally, and perpetrators of these violent acts must be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others who might harbour similar intentions. We stand united in our demand for peace, progress, and justice for Ada.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that on Monday, December 23, 2024, some community members of Bornikorpe in Ada, attacked their colleagues from the same community suspected to be supporting the operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited, a McDan Group’s subsidiary in charge of commercial salt production in the Ada enclave.

The attackers ambushed the victims and inflicted various degrees of wounds on two of them, Mr. Kuku Nagadzie and Mr. Korletey Kugblenu, who respectively had his eyes swollen and cuts on his body.

The two were sent to the Sege Polyclinic for medical treatment after receiving a police medical form following a complaint at the Sege District Police.

The attackers on the same day invaded Electrochem Ghana Limited’s concession to destroy properties but were stopped by a joint police and military task force.

GNA