The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) has given the government a one-week deadline to suspend plans to sell the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), warning that failure to address its concerns could lead to industrial action.
The union’s warning followed a demonstration by more than 200 VALCO workers in Tema, where employees marched through parts of the industrial hub before submitting a petition to the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, for onward delivery to President John Dramani Mahama.
The ICU is opposing the proposed equity investment arrangement involving the state-owned aluminium smelter, arguing that the move could threaten jobs and undermine Ghana’s industrial development.
The union maintains that VALCO remains a strategic national asset and should continue under government ownership rather than being transferred to a private investor.
Addressing the workers during the protest, ICU General Secretary Morgan Ayawine said the union could not allow decisions affecting the future of VALCO to be taken without the involvement of key stakeholders.
“VALCO is a national asset, and we cannot continue to sit aloof and allow anybody to run the company without involving a key stakeholder such as the ICU,” he said.
Mr Ayawine argued that the company had shown signs of improvement and required additional government support rather than private ownership.
“We have witnessed significant progress in VALCO, and it must be protected for the benefit of present and future generations. Transferring it to a private investor will deprive the people of Ghana of ownership of this vital national asset,” he stated.
The ICU General Secretary further questioned the need for private equity investment, insisting that government should instead inject capital into the company to boost production capacity and protect workers’ livelihoods.
“The proposed equity investment will undoubtedly affect the operations of VALCO. The proposal to sell the company should be abandoned. We have seen improved performance at VALCO, and it is unacceptable to relinquish it to a private investor,” he said.
According to the union, handing over control of VALCO to a private investor could result in workforce reductions and negatively affect the livelihoods of employees and their families.
The protest comes after calls from some VALCO workers for government to bring in a strategic investor to revive the company through fresh capital investment.
Although reports indicate that government and Cabinet had approved an investor for the aluminium smelter, the decision has generated concerns among some workers who fear possible job cuts.
Receiving the petition on behalf of President Mahama, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive Ebi Bright assured the workers that their concerns would be communicated to government for consideration.
“We want to assure you to keep faith with the government. Your concerns will be addressed,” she told the demonstrators.
