Lack of coordination stalls peace process - B|w communities, salt miners in V. Region
Lack of coordination between the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in handling the impasse between salt winning communities and Seven Seas Salt Company in the Ketu South Municipality has negatively affected a peace process being led by the Volta Regional Peace Council.
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As a result, the chiefs and queenmothers of the Some Traditional Area, under whose jurisdiction the company operates, have withdrawn from the mediation efforts by the VRCC.
Decision
“Our decision not to participate in any further mediation talks has been necessitated by the recent visit of the Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Peter Amewu. On Thursday, April 13, 2017, the minister paid a working visit to the Some traditional authority, met with the Seven Seas Salt Company and some youth of the area.”
“However, our investigations have revealed that the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, and the Ketu South Municipal Assembly did not know about the meeting.” This was contained in a release signed by the Paramount Chief of Some, Togbui Adamah III, and three other elders and copied to the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
According to the chiefs, they had gathered that Mr Amewu, in a meeting with the company, gave a two-point ultimatum for the company to prepare a 300-metre north and south portion of the concession as promised the communities and also to revert to the use of sea water for its operations within two weeks.
Accusations
They further accused the minister of asking the youth of Kpedzakope to directly report their concerns to him in Accra instead of engaging the traditional authority in the area.
According to them, this has emboldened the youth to disrespect the traditional authority and also jeopardised the efforts of VRCC and the Peace Council to resolve the impasse amicably.
“In these circumstances, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to continue with the peaceful mediation aimed at bringing lasting peace between the salt factory and the salt winning communities as we do not know where to direct our concerns,” they further claimed.
Background
A misunderstanding between residents of Adina and the salt mining factory led to the death of one person.
Later, Dr Letsa, the chiefs and the youth of Klikor and Some traditional areas, as well as the mining company, signed a memorandum of understanding at a stakeholders meeting to mandate the Volta Regional Peace Council to lead a mediation process.
The meeting was attended by the Volta Regional caucus in Parliament, officials of the salt factory, traditional and opinion leaders from the catchment areas and the Ministry of Trade. The rest were the regional police command, Environmental Protection Agency and the Ketu South Municipal Assembly.
Per the MOU, the Peace Council was to dialogue with the concerned parties to develop a road map for a peaceful resolution of the impasse.
