Electrochem Ghana Limited, the largest industrial salt production mine in Africa, is set to expand its workforce by hiring an additional 2500 manual mining workers as it ventures into the next year.
Reports indicate that the company has already initiated the recruitment process for these workers to augment its workforce for full-scale operations in Ada Songoor.
In a recent development, the company hired 372 individuals, and now it aims to bring in approximately 2500 more workers for manual mining activities.
Electrochem Ghana Limited has designated a portion of its developed pans for manual mining, addressing unemployment challenges in the Ada traditional area by generating more job opportunities.
The company has ambitious plans to employ over 7000 Ghanaian youth by the upcoming year.
Currently, 3000 individuals are part of the first phase of the project, with an additional 4000 to be engaged when the salt concession reaches full operational capacity in 2024.
To kick off this year, Electrochem will begin with the recruitment of 2500 workers, predominantly indigenes and youth from Ada and surrounding communities.
The move to hire 2500 additional workers aligns with the company’s commitment to bridging the unemployment gap in the area and fulfilling its promise to the people of Ada.
During the commissioning of Electrochem’s Salt Mine and Processing Plant in Ada, the CEO of the McDan Group, Dr. Daniel Mckorley, had disclosed the company’s intention to employ over 7000 Ghanaian youth—a commitment now being realized with this latest development.
Electrochem, a subsidiary of the McDan Group, was granted a 15-year lease to revitalize the Ada Songor salt concession, previously neglected due to mismanagement.
The transformation of the concession, ongoing for two years, has already provided jobs for the local population, contributing to economic growth.
The current production output of 650,000 metric tons of salt is expected to increase to one million metric tons next year and reach two million by 2025.
This marks the first phase of the project, and as the company completes the refinery and other sections, it is poised to drive industrialization in the country, creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
The $88-million Electrochem Salt Washing Plant, currently the largest in Africa, processes 650,000 tonnes of industrial salt annually from a vast field spanning 41,000 acres across 33 communities in the Ada Songhor Salt site.
Production is projected to escalate to two million tonnes per annum by 2027, accompanied by an increase in the workforce to 7000 with the completion of the second phase.
The company’s overarching goal is not only to supply salt to local and regional markets but also to become a major player in the global market through exports.