Calm returns to VALCO

Calm has been restored at the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) following a successful meeting between senior management of the company, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and leadership of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), including VALCO local union executives. 

The meeting follows the recent developments at the company that attracted some media attention in the bad light.

Graphic Online is learning that the unionised staff have agreed to return to the negotiating table to continue their wage negotiations.

Leadership of all the key stakeholders, including the CEO of VALCO, Mr. Dan Acheampong; Director of HR and Administration at VALCO, Mr. Festus Quaidoo; CEO of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), Mr. Michael Ansah; General Secretary for ICU, Mr. Morgan Ayawine, and Chairman of the local union, Mr. Edgar Tetteh, at their meeting on Monday, November 7, 2022, signed an undertaking to demonstrate their commitment to the process and lend their full support towards ensuring the resumption of full operations at VALCO.

VALCO in recent weeks has dominated the media space following labour agitations by some workers who refused some Management Members entry into the facility, a situation that disrupted operations and led to a planned shutdown of the aluminium smelter.

VALCO management in a press statement noted that in line with the Board’s directive they worked with the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) to take down the power to the operating line in an orderly fashion to save the smelter in order to allow for a smooth restart.

With calm restored at VALCO, all employees at the facility are expected to be called in to resume work as their leadership continues the wage negotiation process with the declared objective of an amicable settlement.