Government will repeal PNDC law 287

Ghana’s Minister for Mines, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei Darko,(MP) has assured the people of Ada that PNDC law 287 under which government confiscated some lands and the Songor Lagoon without compensation to rightful owners would soon be repealed.

The government has indicated that it is more interested in dialoguing with the traditional authority as the mouthpiece of the people in reaching an amicable solution to the matter, which had generated a lot of acrimonies among them.

The Songor Lagoon is one of the sites earmarked for the harvesting of salt under the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI), however, there has been misgivings from a section of the people that the NPP government also intends to use land without due recourse to the owners.

The Minister made the assurance when he paid a visit to the Traditional Authorities to dialogue and explain government position on the matter and how the people of Ada would benefit, should the salt project take off.

Describing the situation so far, Mr. Adjei Darko said the Ministry had received a number of letters from indigenous people warning that if he did not take caution and submit to some chiefs, at the expense of the landowners, the project would not take off in Ada. Ada, which is about an hour’s drive from the capital, Accra, boasts of incredible amount of salt, which can earn the West African country, huge sums of foreign exchange.

One of the letters addressed to the President, which the Minister read stated: "Mr. President, Please you must give us a Minister who will seek advice and not one that would submit to some chiefs who don't owe the land.

"Remember the Takoradi, and the Tema harbours, which were to be built in Ada failed and Rawlings and Tsikata also failed in Ada."

Commenting on this issue, Mr. Adjei-Darko described the notion as unfortunate and said it was sad to hear things like that from indigenous Ada people, adding, "if even people in the land can say this about their own people, then what sort of government and Minister do they want to work with."

He, however, appealed to the chiefs and people, especially those with grievances to recognise the Traditional Council as their embodiment or mouthpiece capable of resolving all matters in the land. The Mines Minister announced that government intends to set up a 15-member committee that would have representatives from the landowners to see to the management of the Songor salt development project.

Besides, the project, which would be under an Ada contractor, would also ensure that it employs the youth of the town as well as pay, all necessary proceeds to the landowners and the Traditional Council.

Currently a number of investors have expressed interest in the project and the funds for the construction of crystallising pans where the salt would be harvested were ready.

He said the only thing delaying its takeoff were the acrimonies among them that had resulted in almost every sub or divisional chief wanting the government to deal with him.

Prior to the Ministers visit, over 40 police personnel from Tema with riffles, tear gas and water cannons were deplored at Ada to prevent a cross-section of the people, who intended to hold demonstration to call for the repeal of the law and compensation to the rightful owners.

The group, calling itself Ada Songor Lagoon basin Owners Committee had to call off the demonstration mainly because of a court injunction, which was issued, to them at 1100 p.m the previous day.

Some inscription on prepared placards for the exercise included; President Kufuor hand over the Songor to its owners; Clan lands do not belong to Divisional chiefs; We do not want Ogoni in Ada, government help it out; and Ada chiefs, be honest, tell the truth to government.

A petition made available to the GNA called on the government to take steps to discuss with landowners to launch the report on preliminary studies, which they have submitted to government.