The chiefs and elders of the Some Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipality have declared their intention to return to the mediation table to peacefully resolve the dispute between the community and Seven Seas Salt Company, a salt mining company in the area.
Torgbi Adama III, Makorsor of Some, announced the move when he led a delegation of chiefs and queens from the area to call on the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa at his Ho Residence today.
The Seven Seas Salt Company at Adina in the Ketu South Municipality and its host communities on April 6, 2017, signed a peace agreement to use mediation to resolve their misunderstandings without using violence.
It followed violent clashes between the company and communities, including Adina, Agbevekope and Adinamornu, which blamed the company for causing drought in the area resulting in drying up of domestic wells and destruction of coconut plantations through its drilling of underground water for production of salt.
But the chiefs, on April 22, 2017, pulled out of the peace talks mediated by the Volta Regional Office of the National Peace Council, with claims that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, had visited the Indian Salt Mining company at Adina and interacted with the youth of the area without calling and interacting with the chiefs who are the custodians of the land.
However, the chiefs have rescinded that decision and want to continue the mediation process.
In expressing their commitment to peace, Torgbi Adama gave an assurance that the chiefs and queens of Some remain committed to actively participating in the process to achieve a peaceful resolution of the impasse for the mutual benefit of both sides.
Among other things, the chiefs used the visit, which served as a platform to interact with the Minister on ways of collaborating towards the development of their communities to pledge their loyalty and support to initiating and implementing developmental projects in the region.
In his response, Dr. Letsa commended the chiefs for their decision to continue with the peace talks.
He described the decision as a sign of maturity and prayed that the mediation process ends early for both parties to co-exist peacefully.
That, he said would help to effectively facilitate developmental projects in the area, and assured the chiefs of the support of his office.
Following a misunderstanding between the company and the host communities, a native of Adina died instantly from alleged gunshots by the police in a clash between the youth of the community and the company after some young men allegedly assaulted a worker of the company who attempted to stop them from stealing salt from the company’s concession.
Two others, including a lady were also wounded from the gunshots.
At a stakeholders meeting organised by the Peace Council in Ho chaired by Dr. Archibald Letsa, the parties mandated the Peace Council to begin a mediation talk towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
By: ADR Daily Correspondent, Ho/adrdairly.com
