The largest salt mine begins operations; 3,000 people are employed by Electrochem.

In the Greater Accra Region’s Dangme East District, the largest industrial salt-producing mine in Africa has been put into operation.

The Ada Songhor Salt site‘s $88 million Electrochem Salt Washing Plant processes 650,000 metric tons of industrial salt annually that is extracted from a 41,000-acre expanse that crosses at least 33 towns.

One of the businesses allowed to operate under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is Electrochem, which has a 15-year initial lease and employs over 3,000 people from Ada and the neighboring territories.

The factory, which is already up and running and producing at a purity of 99.99 percent, has surpassed Walvis Bay in Namibia, whose about 16,700 acres were previously thought to be the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, to become the largest in Africa.

By 2027, production is anticipated to expand to about two million metric tons annually, and with the second phase’s completion, employment is anticipated to reach 7,000 people.

Astroturf football fields, roads, and advanced GH3 million interest-free loans to traders and businesses are just a few of the facilities and amenities that Electrochem has given to communities in the catchment area in order to obtain a social license to operate the salt mine, which has been the target of animosity and litigation for decades.

Additionally, Electrochem has given the local population access to potable water, schools, health clinics, and scholarships.

Commissioning

The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who yesterday officially launched the multi-million dollar project, said the Electrochem salt mine was an illustration of what strong private sector support for government policy could accomplish.

The President outlined the 54-year history of unsuccessful attempts by previous administrations to fully use the Songhor Lagoon’s potential before noting that the initiative had achieved success under his watch to the advantage of the people of Ada and the general populace.

“The brilliant and outstanding entrepreneur Daniel McKorley deserves praise for what we are seeing today. He is a brave and successful businessman. An indigenous businessman would now own one of Africa’s largest extractive sectors for the first time in recent memory, the speaker claimed.

“He is a bright example of what perseverance and drive can accomplish. McDan, Ayekoo, the president yelled.

Support

According to the President, for a project of this size to succeed, it will need the support and cooperation of the host community’s leaders and residents in addition to that of the government.

He expressed the gratitude of Ghanaians to Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, the Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, and the Ada people for their support of the initiative, saying, “This gesture must be emulated by other traditional rulers in the country.”

Refinery

The company’s management decided to build its own refinery in addition to a port that would be built not far from the site in order to export refined salt to the larger African market and other areas of the world. The President expressed his joy at this choice.

President Akufo-Addo underlined his certainty that the anticipated $1 billion in income for the corporation would be significantly surpassed once the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was operational.

The Executive Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley, who owns the majority of Electrochem, requested that certain significant road projects leading to the mine be built. The President also took note of this proposal.

“I will present the Minister of Roads and Highways with these requests and make sure he tries his utmost to build the roads. I’m going to care about them personally,’ President Akufo-Addo promised.

Challenges

On his side, McKorley acknowledged that the project had faced numerous difficulties, such as misrepresentation and charges leveled against him for numerous reasons, but claimed that as a leader, he remained steadfast and pushed forward in order to realize the dream.

“Because at the end of the day, we have nowhere to go, we, as entrepreneurs in this country, must be brave in humility to produce the desired impact for our country. We must make improvements and invest in this area because it is where we were born and where we currently reside.

President Akufo-Addo, the chiefs, queenmothers, and elders of Ada received praise from Mr. McKorley for their unwavering support.

Advantage for Africa

The realization of the mine, according to AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, would not only benefit Ghana but also Africa as a whole because it would aid in the industrialization effort of the continent.

He gave an assurance that the AfCFTA Secretariat would continue to work with the company to occupy the African market and halt the imports of salt from faraway nations.

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