The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, has asked residents and assemblymen in the Ketu–South Municipality to be patient and also give way to peace that will ensure the development of the area.
The Regional Minister, who was on a fact finding mission to Adina, near Aflao, following misunderstanding between the residents and Seven Sea Salt Company Limited, a salt mining company, which was accused of operating without legal documents, said peace was important and must be observed at all times.
According to the Regional Minister, residents in the Ketu-South Municipality in September, this year, demonstrated through the principal streets of Denu, Adina and other communities in the area to express their displeasure about the activities of the salt mining company.
Dr Letsa said the people blamed the Company for the death of a pregnant woman and her three children in a trench belonging to the Seven Sea Company Limited.
He described the death of the pregnant woman and her three children as unfortunate, but noted that wearing war-like attire to demonstrate was not a solution to the problem.
According to him, the residents had no knowledge as to whether the Company was operating legally or not and that the demonstrators should have consulted officials from the Mineral Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Dr Letsa noted, however, that his administration would not support the Salt Company to violate the country’s laws, rules and regulations.
He, therefore, pleaded with the residents to allow the development to thrive in an atmosphere of peace and unity and that efforts would be made to promote dialogue between the two factions to ensure peace.
The Volta Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Mr Hope Smith Lomotey, advised the communities and the Assemblymen to engage legal luminaries to take them through the terms of the contract of the company before they consider taking any further action.
To Mr Lomotey, the residents ought to have found out from the appropriate authorities whether the Company had relevant documents before demonstrating against the company. He contended the people simply do not understand the difference between a concession and a restricted area, and that the Salt mining Company was liberal to the people.
He added that the drowning of the pregnant woman and her three children, even though was an unfortunate development , the company was not liable to warrant such unnecessary demonstration, saying that concession areas were not meant for fishing or any other activity by members of the community.
Mr Lomotey told the residents that after careful inspection of the activities of the company, it was clear that the company had the relevant documents and was operating legally.
