Accra, April 2, – The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana) has reiterated its commitment to work with stakeholders to stabilise operations at the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), while urging management to avoid equity divestment in recapitalisation efforts.
Mr Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of ICU-Ghana, stressed that VALCO remained a strategic national asset that must be preserved under Ghanaian ownership.
“VALCO is a strategic national asset of which we are immensely proud. Not even the smallest fraction of it should be ceded to local or foreign interests through equity participation,” he said.
His remarks were delivered in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Emmanuel Baah Benimah, Deputy General Secretary of the Union, during the inauguration of newly elected local union executives of VALCO in Tema.
Mr Benimah, who administered the oath of office to the executives, emphasised the need to protect national assets and reduce reliance on royalties, which he noted often represent only a fraction of their true value.
He called on VALCO management to support efforts to safeguard the company’s long-term interests and avoid decisions driven by short-term considerations.
Mr Ayawine further urged management to maintain constructive engagement with workers to address grievances and promote industrial harmony.
“As a human institution, disagreements are inevitable, but they must be managed with wisdom and mutual respect,” he said.
He also advised the newly elected union executives to exercise restraint and fairness in the discharge of their duties, emphasising the need for balanced labour relations.
“Do not act in ways that the National Union would not endorse… do not do to Management what you would not expect Management to do to you,” he cautioned.
The newly elected executives include Mr Samuel Agyeman as Chairman, Mr Uel Uzziel Matekole as Vice Chairman, and Mr David Kwebena Yeboah as Secretary.
Others are Mr James Appiah (Assistant Secretary), Mr Joseph Agbanyo (First Trustee), Nii Okai Tagoe (Second Trustee), Mr Joseph Atsu Damalie (Executive Member), Mr Frank Annang (Youth Representative), Ms Gifty Nyanful (Women’s Representative), and Mr Mark Spears Tetteh (Chief Shop Steward).
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