The Operations Manager of Electrochem Ghana Limited, Nene Odeopeor Siada, has disclosed that repeated attacks on its concession are costing the company a fortune following another invasion of its Sector A concession.
The invasion he said, has disrupted operations and heightened tensions with nearby communities.
According to him, while the company strives to serve Ghana and the surrounding communities, the repeated attacks on its concessions are undermining efforts and significantly increasing operational costs.
Electrochem’s operations at its Sector A concession were disrupted early last Thursday morning when about 350 individuals from nearby communities invaded the company’s warehouse and workers’ residential facilities, causing extensive damage and losses.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the vandalized site, the Operations Manager revealed that it was not just the warehouse but the entire Sector A concession that was attacked.
“CCTV cameras show people entering the warehouse and carrying away water pumps, car tyres, bulldozer water tanks, and other equipment, including five jungle motorbikes,” he stated.
He further detailed how the attack extended to other facilities, including the company’s residential bungalows. “Five tipper trucks had their windscreens and windows broken, the fuel pumping station was vandalized, and a compressor at the vulcanizing shop was taken away,” he said.
The residential quarters for workers were also ransacked, with fridges, cooking utensils, gas cylinders, and even mattresses stolen.
“The long boom machine we use to fetch salt was tampered with as well. This is a major disaster for the company,” Nene Siada lamented.
The attackers believed to be from nearby communities, allegedly claimed their government was in power and they were therefore taking over the Electrochem concession.
“Workers arriving at the gate around 5:30 a.m. were turned away by the attackers, who claimed they were taking over the company. They said, ‘Our party has come into power,’ so it’s clear there’s a political dimension to this,” the manager added.
Despite the presence of internal security and the intervention of local police, significant damage had already occurred by the time authorities arrived.
“Most of the items had already been taken before the police intervened,” he noted.
The Ada Divisional Police Commander, ACP Joseph Atsu Dzineku, appealed to community members to address their grievances with Electrochem through peaceful and lawful means rather than resorting to violence.
He urged those who took away company properties to kindly return them because it is a crime under the laws of Ghana stating, “Maybe in the heat of the moment, they carried those things away, but keeping them is a crime.
ACP Dzineku emphasized the need for the perpetrators to return the stolen items as a step toward resolving the issue amicably.