The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) to drive the transformation of Ghana’s vast bauxite reserves into a competitive and sustainable aluminium industry.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, where 10 board members were sworn in, the minister described the responsibility placed on the board as both national and historic. He said Ghana’s abundant bauxite resources must be converted into tangible economic benefits that support industrial growth, create jobs and strengthen the national economy.
Buah recalled that Ghana’s ambition to add value to its bauxite dates back to 1967 but has largely remained unrealised. He urged the board to provide strong leadership, strengthen governance and pursue strategic investments to finally deliver a responsible aluminium value chain.
The minister expressed concern that downstream aluminium industries currently utilise less than 20 per cent of VALCO’s output, describing the situation as a significant missed opportunity. He stressed that the local market must be fully supplied by the end of the board’s tenure.
Buah also called for the modernisation and expansion of the VALCO smelter to improve efficiency and increase production capacity, reminding board members of their critical oversight responsibilities.
In his acceptance remarks, Board Chairman Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah thanked President John Dramani Mahama and the government for the confidence reposed in the board. He assured management and staff of the board’s full support and pledged a commitment to strong corporate governance, accountability and results-driven leadership.