Ada (G/R) May 18, GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Land, Forestry and Mines, on Wednesday urged Chiefs and Elders of the Ada Traditional Area to partner Government in finding lasting solution to the problems of Songhor Salt Project (SSP).

He also requested for the names of accredited Chiefs that the Ministry should deal with in relation to the development of the SSP. Prof Fobih stated this during a day's working visit to Ada, where he was introduced as the new Sector Minister to the Chiefs and Elders of the area.

The visit, which formed part of his familiarization tour of Departments and Agencies under the Ministry, also took him to the SSP Production site at Sege, where he met the Staff, Union Leaders and the Management.

Prof Fobih called for understanding and support from the Chiefs since the SSP was a complicated issue that required the contribution of all interested parties.

He commended the Chiefs for identifying with his vision in the development of the salt industry in the area as well as their invaluable contribution to the process.

Nene Abram Akuoku III, Paramount Chief of Ada, whose speech was read for him, said the Traditional Council supported the Government's intention to expand the Songhor Project.

He said despite the initial hiccups, the Council had resolved some of the problems with interested parties and pledged their co-operation to develop the salt industry in the area.

At a meeting with the Staff and Union Leaders at Sege, Mr Victor Paa Nii Agbi, Secretary of the Local Union, called on the Government to solve the problem of the ownership of the SSP once and for all.

He said the delay in finding a lasting solution to the problem had encouraged some individual salt winners to take over some of the SSP reservoirs and this had affected the Company's production. He also called on the Government to inject more funds into the Company to ensure increased production to meet the demands from the West African Sub-Region.