Police, youth clash over Songhor salt mining site at Ada
Angry youth from Luhuor, near Sege in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Friday clashed with police over the operations of Electrochem Limited, a private company that is managing the Songhor salt mining site.
Police reportedly arrested 40 community members in the clash that led to the destruction of properties worth several thousands of cedis.
One person said to have sustained gunshot wounds during the disturbances was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
An eye witness said the youth ransacked the private security guards on patrol duty at Electrochem operational area and injured some of them after seizing their guns and ammunition.
He said the youth also attacked police personnel dispatched to restore sanity at the scene but a reinforcement team from Tema and nearby areas managed to bring the situation under control after rounding up about 40 community members in connection with the skirmishes.
The Chief of Toflokpo Salom, Nene Dadebom Anim II, was allegedly arrested when he surrendered a gun seized from the police during the attack.
The Songhor enclave in the Ada West District has recently seen renewed clashes after the Songor lagoon was leased to the private mining company.
Prior to this incident some natives of Toflokpo–Salom who were not in favour of Electrochem Ghana Limited taking over the Ada Salt Basin engaged in a confrontation disrupting survey activities with 14 people sustaining gunshot wounds.
After that impasse the Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II met stakeholders to calm nerves.
FROM GODFRED BLAY GIBBAH, LUHUOR
