Popular Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya has come under fire from Ghanaians, particularly the people of Ada, for a recent video in which he falsely attributed the disputed salt mining to business mogul, Daniel McKorley, also known as McDan.
Perhaps ignorant of the issues surrounding the matter of salt mining and the ongoing conflict between the Ada people and the billionaire, Wode Maya misrepresented in his video that McDan founded the biggest African salt mining business.
After uploading the video to YouTube and sharing the link on Facebook, he received a lot of negative feedback from viewers, which he probably wasn’t prepared for.
Every remark that has been seen so far under the post has been critical; some have advised him to take down the video because of possible consequences, while others have charged that he took bribes from McDan to further his agenda.
Background to feud over Ada salt mining
For almost three years, McDan’s salt mining company, Electrochem Ghana Limited, has been entangled in a conflict with the Ada people. The dispute started in 2020 when Electrochem was granted permission by the government and traditional authorities to mine salt in the Ada-Songor lagoon.
The business contended that the lease would open up possibilities for regional growth, including employment chances for young people from the area. Ada’s citizens, who also depended on salt mining for their subsistence, had various views on the project. While some saw it as advantageous, others believed that the privatization of the lagoon would jeopardize their way of life.
President Akufo-Addo launched the project on August 30, 2023, despite protests from Ada’s youth.
Electrochem began salt mining activities in the lagoon. During a news conference in January, the Ada Songor Lagoon Association (ASLA) prominent member and chief of the Terkpebiawe Clan stated that the community would not allow the firm to mine salt across a significant area of the lagoon.
“McDan has been given a place to work in the Lagoon and we entreat him to focus on his territory because we will not vacate our vast portion for him to operate.
He alone cannot feed us and our subjects; this is the source of livelihood of the people. You McDan have no right to be here, your presence in Ada is illegitimate and you cannot give us any ultimatum,” he asserted.
In a recent escalation of the conflict, one individual has been reported dead, and several others have been wounded following a shooting incident involving residents of Ada and Electrochem Ghana Limited.
“Today, these alleged land guards went to Toflokpo. The chief of the town informed me that when the landguards arrived, they began attacking anyone in sight.
The people of Toflokpo retaliated as well. Some residents of Ada stated that this is their source of livelihood, so if Electrochem takes over all the land, where will they find their source of income and livelihood?” he asked.
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