Former MP and DRIP National Coordinator, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has revealed his deep disappointment over the swift and poorly scrutinized passage of the bill that handed over the Songor Salt Project to Electrochem Ghana Ltd.
Speaking on GHONE TV, Nii Lante Vanderpuye said only 12 MPs were present in the chamber when the bill was passed — just four to five hours after the document was introduced. “I felt sick… it was so disappointing. My heart was heavy,” he said.
He lamented that the bill lacked provisions to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people of Ada and the nation at large. “The sort of things I was expecting to see in the bill… they weren’t there. It’s like the people were given a raw deal.”
Nii Lante Vanderpuye criticized Parliament’s internal processes, noting that key decisions are often left to committee members, excluding other MPs from meaningful influence. “Something like this deserved more extensive scrutiny,” he said, adding that several other bills were similarly rushed through during that parliamentary term.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye described the day Parliament approved the controversial lease of the Songor Salt Project to Electrochem Ghana Limited as “one of the most disappointing days” in the nation’s legislative history.
The former Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo and a staunch advocate for indigenous rights, Nii Lante Vanderpuye expressed deep regret over the decision, which has sparked widespread public concern and opposition from local communities in the Ada area.
He believes the handing over of Songor Salt to Electrochem was not just a policy misstep but a betrayal of the people of Ada, their history, and their economic lifeline. “That day marked a low point in our Parliament’s duty to protect the interest of its citizens.”
The lease agreement, which grants Electrochem Ghana Ltd control over the salt-rich lagoon in the Greater Accra Region, has been mired in controversy since its inception. Critics argue that it disenfranchises local salt miners who have traditionally depended on the lagoon for their livelihood. Proponents, however, claim it will bring industrial development and job opportunities to the area.
The Songor salt lease has remained a flashpoint in Ghana’s resource governance debate, with many accusing government of favoring corporate interests over local livelihoods.
The Songor Lagoon, one of Ghana’s most productive salt pans, has long been the center of disputes between traditional owners, the government, and private interests. In recent years, tensions have risen over state-backed efforts to commercialize and industrialize the resource without what critics say is adequate stakeholder engagement.
But how can a whole Member of Parliament come spew this level of disparaging, bareface lies and concucted story on a national Television?
The Hon. Member of Parliament has been in Parliament all the while after the passage of the said Bill granting the lease to Electrochem Ghana Limited.
Why did he choose to remain silent up until now.
We can all see a clear machination and pure hate orchestrations on the part of these MPs, i.e. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah and Michael Bessey on their agenda to disrupt and bring down the operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited.
They tried all their best in the past with several attack on the comapny and its personnels, but all to no avail, they have now resorted to the assistance of Hon. Nii Lamptey in their nefarious agenda.
Electrochem Ghana Limited is legalised entity that has gone through all needed statutory requirements to operate and mine salt at Ada Songor both for local consumption and on commercial bases.
No amount of vilification and attack on the entity shall see the light of Day.
Let’s cast our minds back to when this Songor has been there, and juxtapose same to improvement the people of Ada has seen and felt in their lives till the point where Electrochem Ghana Limited took over the Lagoon for their operations… the difference are glaring for all and sundry to see.
These agenda to smear negativity on the comapny will not wash.
The Ex-Member of Parliament should endeavour to take tour to the sight and acquaint himself with the extent of Investment and the work had been done at the Songor in order for him to draw better conclusions on his feeble stance now; He shouldn’t allow himself to be misled and drawn into mischievous endeavour by the Ada and Sege MPs… they cannot play politics with this magnitude of Investment.
Electrochem Ghana Limited is here to stay in order to help continue to transform the fortunes of the Ghanaian Economic.
Again, let us not forget, Salt has been declared and Indusrial Mineral by the State which has so many benefits that can be harnessed for industrial transformation both in Ghana and the sub-region. Electrochem Ghana Limited is poised to leverage on this opportunity to help bring life to Ada and Ghana as a whole through the production of the salt in commercial terms.
The people of Ada and Sege can attest to the several and numerous Developmental projects and interventions that have been undertaken for them by Electrochem Ghana Limited, and the comapy ready to do more of same in the years ahead of them.
All well meaning Ghanaians should endeavour to take a time out of their busy to pay a visit to Electrochem Ghana Ltd and see for themselves what is going on on-site..Community Pans have been created for the community folks to mine their salt as usual, alongside the introduction and implementation of Out-grower Schemes for them.
What again do they want?
We cannot use nor hide behind Politics to destroy such magnitude of investments and genuine businesses in our country and deepen the level of joblessness within our country.
No MP nor Politically expose individual can bring Electrochem down with shear lies and baseless claims.
I shall be back!!!
But how can a whole Member of Parliament come spew this level of disparaging, bareface lies and concucted story on a national Television?
The Hon. Member of Parliament has been in Parliament all the while after the passage of the said Bill granting the lease to Electrochem Ghana Limited.
Why did he choose to remain silent up until now.
We can all see a clear machination and pure hate orchestrations on the part of these MPs, i.e. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah and Michael Bessey on their agenda to disrupt and bring down the operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited.
They tried all their best in the past with several attack on the comapny and its personnels, but all to no avail, they have now resorted to the assistance of Hon. Nii Lamptey in their nefarious agenda.
Electrochem Ghana Limited is legalised entity that has gone through all needed statutory requirements to operate and mine salt at Ada Songor both for local consumption and on commercial bases.
No amount of vilification and attack on the entity shall see the light of Day.
Let’s cast our minds back to when this Songor has been there, and juxtapose same to improvement the people of Ada has seen and felt in their lives till the point where Electrochem Ghana Limited took over the Lagoon for their operations… the difference are glaring for all and sundry to see.
These agenda to smear negativity on the comapny will not wash.
The Ex-Member of Parliament should endeavour to take tour to the sight and acquaint himself with the extent of Investment and the work had been done at the Songor in order for him to draw better conclusions on his feeble stance now; He shouldn’t allow himself to be misled and drawn into mischievous endeavour by the Ada and Sege MPs… they cannot play politics with this magnitude of Investment.
Electrochem Ghana Limited is here to stay in order to help continue to transform the fortunes of the Ghanaian Economy.
Again, let us not forget, Salt has been declared and Indusrial Mineral by the State which has so many benefits that can be harnessed for industrial transformation both in Ghana and the sub-region. Electrochem Ghana Limited is poised to leverage on this opportunity to help bring life to Ada and Ghana as a whole through the production of the salt in commercial terms.
The people of Ada and Sege can attest to the several and numerous Developmental projects and interventions that have been undertaken for them by Electrochem Ghana Limited, and the comapy ready to do more of same in the years ahead of them.
All well meaning Ghanaians should endeavour to take a time out of their busy to pay a visit to Electrochem Ghana Ltd and see for themselves what is going on on-site..Community Pans have been created for the community folks to mine their salt as usual, alongside the introduction and implementation of Out-grower Schemes for them.
What again do they want?
We cannot use nor hide behind Politics to destroy such magnitude of investments and genuine businesses in our country and deepen the level of joblessness within our country.
No MP nor Politically expose individual can bring Electrochem down with shear lies and baseless claims.
I shall be back!!!