Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has tasked the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) with converting Ghana’s bauxite resources into concrete economic value.
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At the inauguration ceremony, where 10 board members were sworn in, Buah framed the assignment as extending beyond corporate stewardship, calling it a “national and historic” responsibility.
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“Ghana is blessed with abundant bauxite resources, and your duty is to ensure these resources are converted into tangible economic benefits that will support industrial growth, create jobs, and strengthen our economy,” he stated.
The minister reminded the board that Ghana’s ambition to add value to its bauxite dates back to 1967, yet remains largely unrealised. He pressed for decisive leadership, and added , "You must pursue a compelling vision, strengthen governance and commit to strategic investments that will finally deliver a responsible and sustainable aluminium value chain for this country.”
Local market gap and smelter modernisation
A key concern raised was the minimal consumption of VALCO’s output by downstream producers. As per the report, Guinea’s domestic downstream aluminium industries currently utilise less than 20 per cent of VALCO’s output. Describing this as a major missed opportunity, the Minister set a clear expectation for change.
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“It is unacceptable that after all these years, VALCO is still unable to meet the needs of the local market. By the end of your tenure, the Ghanaian market must be fully supplied,” Buah stressed.
He further called for the modernisation and expansion of the VALCO smelter to improve efficiency and increase capacity, while reminding the board of its critical oversight role in driving reforms.
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, assuring management and staff of full support, strong corporate governance, and accountability.
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