This commitment was under­scored by a working visit yester­day by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for mining, Mr George Mireku Duker.

The visit was for him to acquaint himself first-hand with the operations of the company in the area, in furtherance of government’s resolve to ensure that the company and residents of the area enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that spurs the growth of the area and Ghana at large.

The working tour included a visit to the mining site, where the deputy minister and his delegation from the ministry and the Minerals Commission received a detailed briefing on the salt mining process.

They also took a guided tour through the entire operational area, gaining a thorough un­derstanding of the meticulous steps involved in extracting salt from the Songhor Lagoon.

Speaking to the media after the tour, Mr Duker disclosed that Electrochem Ghana Limited would soon list on the Ghana Stock Exchange to allow Ghanaians to invest in it.

He stated that the listing of Electrochem was a testament to the accountability and transpar­ent credentials of the company.

He commended the Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, management, and staff for the visionary and land­mark Electrochem project, which had so far created over 1,800 direct jobs in the area and seen an investment of $80 million.

The deputy minister noted that since its arrival, Electro­chem Ghana Ltd had shed positive light on the people of Ada and made them a topic of global interest as well as a beacon of positive news for the area.

He took stock of the so­cio-economic impact of the Songhor project on the area and the country at large, noting that the company is generating significant revenue for the MIIF.

He believes that a strong and collaborative relationship between mining companies and communities in catchment areas is crucial to the effective harnessing of the resources and therefore counseled mining companies to consider those communities as key and in­dispensable partners in their activities.

Speaking on behalf of the company, the Group CEO of McDan Group of Companies, Mr Kwaku Ampromfi, com­mended Mr Duker for the visit, noting that the Tarkwa-Nsuaem lawmaker has been consistent with his support for the com­pany.

The company, he said was taking pragmatic measures to continue its expansion and also deliver on its CSR commitments to the communities to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of their resources.

Nene Agudey, the Vice Pres­ident of the Ada Traditional Council, said that Electrochem’s arrival was an answer to years of prayer from the indigenes for an effective harnessing of their resources.

He assured that the traditional authorities will continue to work with the company to resolve the stand-offs and ensure that the salt is harnessed for the devel­opment of Ada and Ghana.