A Ghana court freed 13 salt miners after four years of legal battles. Judge Agnes Opoku-Barnieh ruled Thursday that police failed to prove their case against the workers from Ada region. The miners faced charges related to fighting over Ada Songor Lagoon control with Electrochem Ghana Limited. Court sessions forced them to travel monthly from Ada to Tema for hearings. Police could not connect the accused men to any criminal activity during the trial.
The trouble started October 2021 when residents stopped a police car carrying masked passengers. Local people suspected the passengers worked as private security for Electrochem company. Angry crowds demanded police reveal who rode inside the vehicle. Violence broke out between community members and law enforcement officers. Police returned the next day and arrested people who had nothing to do with the earlier conflict.
Government gave Electrochem exclusive mining rights to the lagoon during 2020. Traditional leaders and residents opposed the deal because it hurt local salt workers. The company and communities have clashed violently several times since the agreement began. Some people suffered gunshot wounds during these confrontations. Community leaders plan to push for new laws that would return lagoon control to indigenous people.
The trouble started October 2021 when residents stopped a police car carrying masked passengers. Local people suspected the passengers worked as private security for Electrochem company. Angry crowds demanded police reveal who rode inside the vehicle. Violence broke out between community members and law enforcement officers. Police returned the next day and arrested people who had nothing to do with the earlier conflict.
Government gave Electrochem exclusive mining rights to the lagoon during 2020. Traditional leaders and residents opposed the deal because it hurt local salt workers. The company and communities have clashed violently several times since the agreement began. Some people suffered gunshot wounds during these confrontations. Community leaders plan to push for new laws that would return lagoon control to indigenous people.
