The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bernard Owusu, has called for a halt to ongoing processes surrounding the future of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), urging authorities to engage organised labour and other stakeholders in discussions.
According to him, the current approach by VALCO and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) does not adequately consider the interests of workers and ordinary Ghanaians.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Owusu said organised labour has strategies to protect what he described as Ghana’s sovereignty and the interests of VALCO workers.
“That is what they want to do. It has always been like that. VALCO wants to do whatever they want to do through GIADEC, but we also have a strategy to find a way to protect Ghanaian sovereignty,” he said.
He warned that organised labour would resort to further action if its concerns were not addressed.
“There is always a last resort, and when we get to the last bridge, we will resort to that,” he added.
The TUC Chairman called on authorities to suspend the process and return to the negotiation table to find a solution that protects the company and its workers.
“They should halt whatever they are doing. Come to the drawing table for us to sit and discuss what we feel is in the best interest of the ordinary VALCO worker and VALCO as a company,” he said.
Mr Owusu also argued that VALCO’s current management and board should be allowed to continue with their plans, which he believes are more beneficial to the company’s future.
“The President has shown that the trajectory they are pursuing is not going to dwell. It is in their best interest to continue what the board and management are doing than what they are bringing,” he stated.
His comments come after the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) dismissed claims that VALCO is being sold to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, describing the allegations as false and misleading.
In a statement signed by GIADEC Chief Executive Officer Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah and issued on Monday, July 27, the corporation said claims circulating in the public domain and attributed to some individuals claiming to be VALCO staff, led by Samuel Watchman Agyeman, had no factual basis.
GIADEC stated that neither Ibrahim Mahama nor any company linked to him had expressed interest in the ongoing process to secure a strategic equity partner for the retooling and modernisation of VALCO.
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