The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, 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 and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), will assess investor proposals and recommend a strategic partner capable of advancing Ghana’s integrated aluminium industry.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Buah described the alumina refinery and VALCO modernisation as two cornerstone projects of Ghana’s new industrialisation agenda. He said the initiatives would mark a decisive shift from exporting raw materials to processing and manufacturing finished products locally.
“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,” he explained. “The goal is clear — we must move from mine and export to process, manufacture, and export.”
The Minister noted that the vision aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed industrial drive, inspired by the legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who first envisioned an integrated aluminium industry for Ghana. He urged the committee to uphold transparency, integrity, and national interest in executing its mandate.
Hon. Buah further stressed that the selected investor must bring not only financial resources but also technology, expertise, and local capacity development that would generate jobs and promote sustainable industrial growth.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Augustus Agbeli Amegashie, pledged diligence and professionalism in discharging their duties, noting the strong investor interest in Ghana’s aluminium sector as a sign of international confidence in the country’s industrial prospects.
Once completed, the VALCO modernisation and alumina refinery projects are expected to close the long-standing gap in Ghana’s aluminium value chain, create thousands of jobs, and position the nation as a leading producer of value-added aluminium products in Africa.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient industrial base founded on the principles of transparency, sustainability, and innovation — a continuation of Ghana’s long-held dream of transforming natural resources into lasting national prosperity.
