Armed thugs headed by a known NDC activist raided Electrochem Ghana Limited’s salt warehouse in Ada, causing significant financial damage and disrupting daily operations.
According to a statement released and signed on Thursday, January 9, 2024, by Electrochem Ghana’s Chief Executive, Abdul Razak Adam, the armed gunmen who stormed the facility at approximately 3:00 a.m., holding cutlasses and pistols, claim to have been sent from the NDC Headquarters in Accra.
“This criminal act has resulted in considerable financial loss and a profound disruption to our daily operations. More alarmingly, some of our staff members sustained injuries during the chaos, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures and accountability”.
It stated that the brazen attack was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a disturbing trend that poses a serious threat to the safety and security of its employees, as well as the integrity of its operations, as the assailants wreaked havoc on the premises, stealing essential office supplies and a large quantity of salt product from the warehouse.
Electrochem Ghana Limited is a proud Ghanaian company that employs around 1800 permanent employees and over 3,000 temporary laborers during the salt mining season.
“These recurring security breaches not only endanger our personnel but also jeopardize our operational stability and our ability to provide sustainable employment opportunities for Ghanaian citizens Such lawlessness undermines the investment climate in our region and threatens the trust we have cultivated with both local and international investors who have committed substantial resources to our endeavors”.
It further stated that the recurring nature of these attacks creates an uncertain climate that may prevent future investments critical to the company’s and the Ghanaian economy’s growth, as the safety and security of its staff remain top priorities.
The company also expressed concern about the increasing frequency and severity of these attacks, and urged the relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to protect legitimate businesses operating in the region, as these incidents not only threaten its operations but also risk destabilizing the local economy, which is heavily reliant on mining activities.
“Since assuming control of the concession, Electrochem Ghana Limited has made significant strides in community development, including the establishment of community pans, implementation of an out-grower scheme, and development of commercial pans that provide sustainable income sources for residents”.
“Our commitment to community betterment extends beyond salt production; we have invested in education, const111cted clean water infrastructure, and launched micro-loan programs for women entrepreneurs to foster sustainable businesses” it stated
Electrochem Ghana Ltd. has therefore urged the government to take a firm stance against the violence by directing security agencies to quickly apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the act, holding the perpetrators of the attack accountable for their actions and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who may consider similar acts of aggression against its operations in the future.
“We call for public condemnation of these violent acts and demand an immediate investigation into this incident. The time for action is now, as the safety of our workforce and the stability of our operations hang in the balance”. It added.
