The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated an Investor Selection Committee tasked with overseeing the revitalisation of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) and the development of Ghana’s first alumina refinery.
The Committee, established under the Ministry and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), will evaluate investor proposals and recommend a strategic partner capable of delivering a modern, efficient, and sustainable aluminium industry that advances Ghana’s national development agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hon. Buah described the VALCO modernisation and the proposed alumina refinery as cornerstone projects of Ghana’s industrialisation drive marking a decisive shift from the export of raw materials to value-added processing.
“The refinery will feed the smelter, the smelter will anchor downstream aluminium manufacturing, and together they will stimulate new industrial clusters supported by logistics, power, rail, and port infrastructure,” the Minister said. “Our goal is clear: to move from mining and export to processing, manufacturing, and exporting.”
Hon. Buah emphasised that President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed industrial agenda aims to fully integrate Ghana’s aluminium value chain a vision first championed by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He urged Committee members to approach their mandate with integrity, transparency, and a strong sense of national duty.
The Minister further tasked the Committee to attract investors who bring not only financial capital but also technology, expertise, and skills that will translate into job creation, capacity building, and enhanced local participation. He assured that the selection process will remain transparent, merit-based, and environmentally responsible, ensuring sustainable community development.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Augustus Agbeli Amegashie, pledged the team’s commitment to executing its mandate diligently. He noted the growing international investor interest as a strong vote of confidence in Ghana’s leadership and industrial vision.
Once completed, the VALCO modernisation and alumina refinery projects are expected to close the decades-long gap in Ghana’s aluminium value chain, create thousands of jobs, and position the country as a leading producer of value-added aluminium in Africa.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the enduring vision first set by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and now championed by President John Dramani Mahama — building a Ghana that transforms its natural resources into lasting national prosperity through industry, integrity, and innovation.
Story By: Sheila Otuo-Baffour