MIIF CEO Urges People of Ada to Support Salt Mining Development

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs Justina Nelson, has advised indigenes of the Ada traditional area to support positive initiatives aimed at harnessing the full potential of their rich mineral resources.

Mrs Justina Nelson (4th from left) receiving a symbolic gift of salt from the Queenmother of the Ada Traditional Area, Naana Adikie Manyeyo Adi.

She also urged them to use legitimate means to address grievances rather than causing consistent unrest in resolving differences.

Mrs Nelson gave the advice when a high-powered delegation from the Ada Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region, home to the Songhor Lagoon which produces salt, paid a courtesy call on her in Accra.

It was led by Naana Adikie Manyeyo Adi I, Queenmother of the traditional area, and Nene Agudey Obichere III among other leaders within the traditional council.

The Songhor Lagoon

Located outside the major town of Ada and west of the Volta River estuary, the Songhor Lagoon is a coastal lagoon covering 28,740 hectares on Ghana’s eastern coast.

The lagoon holds significant cultural and utilitarian value for local communities. Residents harvest reeds, fuel wood, tilapia, crab, and other resources primarily for subsistence, while salt is extracted for widespread distribution to Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.

Unity and Modern Technology

Mrs Nelson said the area’s huge salt potential requires continuous unity among the people to enable business investment and the use of modern technology to mine this “white gold.”

“If salt is mined in peace, there will be more job opportunities created for the energetic and vibrant youth in the area. Major sources of livelihoods will be created for the people, and the area and nation at large will benefit from salt exports,” she said.

Mrs Nelson pledged MIIF’s commitment to support salt mining efforts, adding that the Fund expects companies mining salt and other minerals throughout the country to honour their obligations to the state through royalty payments.

She expressed appreciation for the thoughtful visit and expressed the hope that the peaceful relationship between MIIF and the Ada Traditional Area would continue to grow. The MIIF CEO urged the queenmothers to use their influence to ensure continued peace to help the community to harness the full benefits of their rich mineral resources.

Mrs Nelson also wished the Ada Traditional Council and the people well as they prepare to celebrate their annual Asafotufiami festival.

Scholarship Extension Request

Naana Adikie Manyeyo Adi pledged the commitment of the traditional area to work hand in hand with the Fund to harness the potential of the area.

While congratulating Mrs Nelson on her appointment as the first female CEO of the Fund, she expressed hope that, as a salt mining area, MIIF would extend its scholarship scheme for women from mining communities where indigenes from the Ada community pursuing courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) can benefit.