Seven precious lives were reported drowned in trenches constructed by Seven Seas Salt Company located in Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region. The seven deaths occurred between the month of March and December 2022, during the reign of Hon. Maxwell Kofie Lugudor, the Municipal Chief Executive Officer.
The deceased were, Kodzo Haligah, aged 14, Nyadru Emmanuel, 18 years, Sitsofe Ahiawa Amewu, 8 years, Bridget Amewu, 14 years, Daddy Amewu, aged 10, Yawa Apenu Amewu, aged 41, and Atsupui Amede, 77 years. They were drowned one after the other, inside very deep trenches constructed by the Seven Seas Salt Company in areas described by Hon. Dr. Afriyie and Hon. Mireku Duker, the two minister’s of state responsible for environmental science, technology, Innovation and Lands and Natural Resources respectively as “Not Yet Approved”.
Fafaa 100.3 FM, a commercial radio station located in Dzodze, in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region raised the sum of Seventy-Two thousand-one hundred-forty four Ghana Cedis and 50 pesewas (Ghc 72,144.50) in two separate cheques, through voluntary contributions by members of its NGO dubbed “Duamenefa Foundation” and other concerned citizens to support the bereaved families of the four victims of the Amewu household, whose tragic death occurred on the 17th day of September, 2022.
The need for the fund raising by the radio station and its Foundation to support the family became very necessary when the Seven Seas Salt Company and their collaborators failed to compensate the bereaved family. Although it’s on record that an environmental permit and final approval for concession to operate in the said areas of Denu, Tokor, Laklevikope, Akame and its environs has not yet been granted to the Seven Seas Company, the company allegedly collaborated with some stakeholders and encroached on the unapproved areas to the detriment of the vulnerable of the society.
The Ketu South Municipal Assembly, under the leadership of Hon. Lugudor is alleged to have failed to supervise and limit the operations of the company to its approved area.
The mortal remains of the victims of the Amewu family were laid laid to rest this day, the 22nd day of April, 2023, amidst crying and wailing by members of the society who claimed their family members are dying miserably through illegal operations of the Seven Seas Salt Company.
The Executive President of the Duamenefa Foundation and CEO of Fafaa Fm Dzodze, Mr. Emmanuel Ketaman Evortepe in his tribute bemoaned the situation where the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of Ketu South, Hon. Maxwell Kofie Lugudor claimed during an interview on Fafaa FM that, “They are aware Seven Seas Company were responsible for digging the trenches”. Unfortunately, innocent lives are perishing, even though Hon. Lugudor at long last issued a “stop work” order to the company to stop its operations within the said unapproved areas, the trenches are still lying hollow. Who knows who will be the next to die
The Duamenefa Foundation of Fafaa FM is an NGO with a membership of over 30,500 registered and certified volunteers scattered across the length and breadth of the Volta Region and beyond. The core mandate of the Foundation among others is to collaborate with lawful agencies to investigate and intervene to save the vulnerable of human rights abuse and to promote peaceful coexistence of people in the various communities.
Watch out for further development……..
Source: duamenefafoundation.org / news editor in chief