REVIVE SALT INDUSTRY

THE government has set up a three-member committee to review the current salt-winning technology and project management at the Ada Songhor Salt Project.
The committee comes after about seven years since the constitution of another committee that was formed as an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the project.
The IMC has for sometime been accused by some workers of “staying too long” on the project and failing to turn around the fortunes of the project.
The constitution of the new committee demonstrates the readiness of the government to address the challenges of the salt industry, otherwise referred to as “white gold”, to lead the assault on poverty in the area.
It is believed that Ghana has one of the largest proven renewable solar salt potential along the West African Coast and the Ada Songhor Lagoon is said to represent the biggest prospective salt-producing source in Ghana.
Indeed, Ghana has been touted as having the potential to export salt to other countries. As stated by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah, at the inauguration of the committee, although the country had the potential to produce more than 2.0 million metric tonnes of salt a year, the current production was less than 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum.
The project has over the years been bogged down by many challenges that have virtually thrown the workers into a state of despair.
Beside concerns that the mining technology presently being pursued does not guarantee optimum levels of production and quality of salt, there also seems to have been a frosty relationship between the workers and the Interim Management Committee.
While some may wish to welcome the new committee with some amount of scepticism, it may appear premature to discredit the committee even before it gets onto the mandate it has been assigned.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to implore the newly constituted committee to as much as possible stay above reproach and work selflessly towards helping Ada Songhor Salt Project maximise its potential.
One critical mandate of the committee is to examine the project management system, including labour and management relations. It is very evident that the frosty relationship that has existed between the workers and management have had some negative effect on the fortunes of the project.
Additionally, issues of harvesting and marketing are also critical, as they impact directly on revenue generation. There have been concerns that the low patronage of salt from Ada Songhor is the consequence of the poor quality, and the committee should get to the drawing board to reverse the trend.
It is quite regrettable that the salt industry has been in the quagmire for so long, being unable to develop its full potential and it is hoped that the committee will expeditiously make recommendations to the government within the two-month time frame.
As we challenge the committee to rise to the occasion, we also urge the government to abide by its commitment to resolve all land litigation issues in the area to ensure the smooth operation of the industry.
The mining of salt is a major business in the Ada area but it is worrying that while the industry offers the opportunity to create jobs and wealth, the people wallow in poverty because of a dispute over who controls the land
Litigation over land has led to loss of lives and properties in the past, compelling the government to take over the Songhor project, which individuals and families used to manage for their well-being.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, appeals to the people of the area to address the controversy over ownership so that the “white gold” can serve as a catalyst for the growth of Ada and its environs.