Residents of Elmina in the Central Region have staged a peaceful demonstration, calling for the return of the Elmina Salt Industry to community control.

The factory, alleged to have been sold by Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, Paramount Chief of the Edina Traditional Council, has sparked unrest among residents who claim decades of unaccounted management of the industry.

The demonstrators expressed frustration over the 26-year lack of accountability regarding the salt factory, which was originally entrusted to the people of Elmina by the Pan Brothers from Greece in the early 1900s.

According to local sources, the Edina Traditional Council allegedly sold the factory to M-YAK & Farouk Company Limited for an undisclosed sum.

In August 1983, the Elmina Salt Industry separated from the Panbros Salt Company (PSC) to allow the people of Elmina to manage the factory for their benefit.

However, demonstrators claim that the community has yet to reap any rewards from the factory’s operations.

During the peaceful protest, which was accompanied by a modest security presence, organizers presented a petition to the factory’s leadership, demanding that the facility be returned to community control for better management.

The petition was received by Kobina Badu, Projection Officer of the company.

Speaking to the media, John Quayson, popularly known as “Manoma,” argued that no chief in Elmina has the authority to sell the salt factory, asserting it belongs to the people of the town.

“For decades, previous chiefs of the Edina Traditional Council accounted for the factory’s management, but Nana Kodwo Conduah VI has failed to do so in his 26-year reign as chief of Elmina,” Quayson stated.

Other residents echoed these sentiments, urging the traditional council to refund any money received from the purported sale to enable the community to reclaim and manage the factory for the benefit of future generations.

In response to the allegations, Nana Nguando IV, Adontehene of the Edina Traditional Council and Chief of Simiw clarified that the salt factory was not sold but rather leased for 40 years.

He explained that the decision was made after the factory had been abandoned for eight years and had fallen into disrepair.

“The factory had accumulated significant arrears, and the lease was necessary to operationalize it and raise funds to settle the debts,” Nana Nguando IV said during a press briefing on behalf of Nana Kodwo Conduah VI.

He criticized the demonstrators for failing to consult the traditional council before organizing the protest but reiterated the council’s openness to dialogue. “Our doors are open for roundtable discussions to clear any misunderstandings,” he added.

As tensions persist, the Edina Traditional Council has invited the community to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, residents remain adamant about reclaiming the salt industry, emphasizing its potential as a vital resource for the town’s economic development.