The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated an Investor Selection Committee to oversee the revitalisation of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) and the development of Ghana’s first alumina refinery.
The committee, established under the Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), is tasked with evaluating investor proposals and recommending a strategic partner to help deliver a modern, efficient, and sustainable aluminium industry aligned with Ghana’s industrialisation goals.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hon. Buah described the VALCO modernisation and the alumina refinery development as “cornerstone projects” of Ghana’s industrial transformation, emphasizing their role in moving the country from raw material export to value-added production.
“The refinery will feed the smelter, the smelter will anchor downstream aluminium manufacturing, and together they will drive new industrial clusters supported by logistics, power, rail, and port infrastructure. The goal is clear: we must move from mine and export to process, manufacture, and export,” he said.
The Minister noted that the initiative forms a key part of President John Dramani Mahama’s reset industrial agenda, which aims to integrate Ghana’s aluminium value chain — a vision first championed by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He urged members of the Committee to execute their duties with “integrity, transparency, and a deep sense of national purpose.”
Hon. Buah further tasked the Committee to attract investors who not only bring capital but also technology, expertise, and innovation that will translate into job creation, skills transfer, and local participation.
He assured that the selection process will remain transparent, merit-based, and environmentally responsible, ensuring that community development remains a core priority.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Augustus Agbeli Amegashie, pledged the team’s commitment to carrying out its mandate diligently, noting that the growing international investor interest reflects confidence in Ghana’s leadership and industrial direction.
When completed, the VALCO modernisation and alumina refinery projects are expected to bridge the long-standing 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 dedication to the vision first set by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and continued under President Mahama — a vision of transforming Ghana’s natural resources into enduring national prosperity through industry, integrity, and innovation.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
