Ghana Bauxite Company’s newly appointed board members paid a working visit to the Awaso mine

The newly appointed directors to manage the board of Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) has paid an official visit to the multi-decade old bauxite company’s mining site in Awaso to acquaintance themselves with the mining operations.

Isaac Ofori Poku, the Executive Board Chairman of Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) led the team to tour the facilities at the bauxite mining site together with Frederick Sarkodie, the General Manager of GBC.

The Director’s delegation visited the Administration, the Community Hospital the Community School, recreational Centres and GBC Guest Houses, the various mining concessions, the Haulage Area, the Crusher, the Washing Plant and the other required units.

However, the Board conversed with the workers to find avenues to discourse prevailing disputes at the bauxite mines following the acquisition from the Chinese firm, Bosai Minerals Group. The new board took over the management of the GBC from the Chinese group, which ran the organisation from February 2010 to February 2022.

The engineers of GBC were authorized to take the board delegates for a thorough visit to the mining site’s operational units.

The mine is an open pit with a low stripping ratio which poses little difficulty for the mining operation. The typical proportion of Al2O3 content in crude bauxite ore is approximately 49%, which can reach above 50.

The Ghana Bauxite Company under the new Board and the new management is signified to boost up the present production from 1.2 million tonnes per annum to 5 million tonnes annually commencing from 2023.

The Executive Board Chairman, while briefing the workers officially welcomed and introduced all members of the Board to the GBC workers. He also extended his thanks to the workers for standing for the company during the challenging times.

He quoted, “A purely Ghanaian consortium had taken over the majority shares of the GBC and would position the company well for progress.”

The Chairman also extended appreciation to Michael Ansah, the CEO of Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) for his full cooperation. He also delivered full confidence to the workers by saying, “The new Board was a very strong and solid team and was sure of success.”

He further added, "It is my prayer that we move this company to greater heights which is achievable. No workers would be laid off as the company had no restructuring plans. We are fully confident that you are our workers and you have done it and continued to do it. We know that you can do it even better."