Dr Mckorley speaking at the official opening of Electrochem

Over 7,000 Ghanaian youth will be employed next year when the Electrochem Ghana Limited Songor Salt Project becomes fully operational.

Currently, 3,000 persons have been employed for the first phase of the project with 4,000 more expected to be engaged when the salt concession hits full operations in 2024.

This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group, Dr Daniel Mckorley at the commissioning of Electrochem’s Salt Mine and Processing Plant at Ada in the Greater Accra Region last Wednesday.

The commissioning, which was performed by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would make Electrochem the hub for salt production in Africa.

The President commended Dr McKorley and Electrochem for harnessing the full potential of the songor lagoon.

“This is the first time in the history of Ghana that an indigenous Ghanaian businessman owns one of the biggest salt refineries in Africa,” he said.

He said Ghana could supply Nigeria and other parts of the world with salt and the importation of salt from Europe would become a thing of the past.

“Nigeria is currently importing two billion worth of salt from Brazil annually and gradually Ghana could be able to provide the neighbouring country and other countries with salt,” he said.

“Producing two million metric tons of salt a year will be the biggest salt concession in Africa and the government is committed to supporting the company to succeed,” he stated.

He thanked the Paramount Chief of Ada, Nene Abram Akuaku III and the people of Ada for their support and urged them to become stakeholders of the project.

Electrochem, a subsidiary of the McDan Group had been granted a 15-year lease to transform the Ada Songor salt concession which hitherto was left to deteriorate due to mismanagement.

The concession which has been in existence for over 54 years, was left in the hands of the locals but the government in 2020, following a diversification agenda to utilise natural resources and rely on public-private partnerships to transform the economy, gave the lagoon to Electrochem for development.

Dr Daniel McKorley said the concession has been transformed in two years and would provide jobs for the local people and ultimately boost the economy.

Currently, he said the company was producing 650,000 metric tons of salt and would move to a million metric tons next year and two million by 2025.

“This is only the first phase of the project and by the time we are done with the refinery and other sections, we could lead the industrialisation drive of the country, by providing jobs to boost the economy,” he stated.

He said, a chemical university to drive industrialisation in Ghana would also be built after the final phase.

The commissioning brought together dignitaries including the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr K.T Hammond as well as executives from the Ghana Association of Industries, Chamber of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency and Ecobank.
By Michael D. Abayateye