After a brief pause in production, the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) is about to resume operations. This decision was at the helm during the meeting chaired by the Senior Management of VALCO, the VALCO local union and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and leadership of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU).
A few days back, the media was flooded with news about workers' agitation in the facilities for dollar-equivalent payment. It came into prominence that the face-off had become so serious that some Management Members were not allowed entry into the factory premises, which had largely affected the day-to-day operations of the aluminium smelter. Though authorities had decided to shut down the plant for almost a week, it is now open after successful settlement discussions.
The company published a press statement, notifying: "the parties have agreed to return to the negotiating table to continue and complete 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, 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," the statement went on to illustrate further.
Under Ghana's Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI), VALCO has opened the market for intense development in both upstream and downstream aluminium sectors. The downstream industry is where aluminium sheets or rolls are produced to be applied in the automotive or aviation industries alongside the construction sector.
Downstream aluminium items created by VALCO flow down to the other essential end-user areas where the malleable metal is converted into aluminium cables or conductors for the electric-power sector, aluminium roofs or claddings for construction purposes and containers or cans for the food and beverage industry.
VALCO management exclaimed during a press meet 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 peace coming back to the vicinity, workers have been requested to resume their usual work schedule. However, the company leads are toiling very hard to negotiate a deal suitable for their employees.
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