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General News of Saturday, 7 April 2001

Source: Joy Online

Government To Repeal Songhor Lagoon Law.

The Government is to repeal the Ada Songhor Lagoon Vesting Law of 1992, to make it possible for all lands confiscated to the state for the salt project to return to the people of Ada.

In a press conference to inaugurate a five- member Interim Management Committee (IMC) by Government to run the affairs of the Songhor Lagoon Project, the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie said, the law when repealed, would allow what he described as surface rights to the people whilst the mineral rights would still be in the hands of government.

The IMC will manage the affairs of the project on daily basis and maintain the salt producing facility for a period not exceeding six months until an investor is found to take-over the project. The project, which created some tension between the former government and the people of Ada over its management, is said to have the capacity to produce 600 billion cedis worth of salt annually. Dr. Afriyie said, government will ensure that royalties and other payments due the people of Ada are released promptly while measures are put in place to allow for a speedy take-over of the project by a prospective investor.

The five-member IMC is made of Mr. Sam Okudzeto and Mr. Tetteh Settie both nominated by the people of Ada, Commander Kwame Ofori Yentumi (rtd), Nii Ayite Boafo and Mr. Joseph William Biney who were appointed the Government.