VALCO’s Professional Staff Backs Government Push for Strategic Investor
The Professional and Management Staff Union (PMSU) of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has publicly distanced itself from a protest against the government’s search for a strategic investor. In a firm statement, the union made it clear that the demonstration does not represent the views of its members, who are the engineers, managers, and operations experts keeping the plant running every day.
Signed by Isaac Odor on behalf of PMSU-VALCO, the statement emphasized that the union was neither consulted nor informed about the protest. “Whatever position is being advanced through this demonstration, it is not the position of the professional and management staff of VALCO,” the union said, urging the public, government, and potential investors not to mistake the protest for their stance.
Why VALCO Needs a Strategic Investor Now
PMSU-VALCO reaffirmed its strong support for the government’s efforts to attract a strategic partner, arguing that the aluminium smelter requires massive capital investment to return to competitive production. The union noted that the search for an investor has been ongoing for over five years, while the plant’s condition has continued to deteriorate.
“We state unequivocally that VALCO needs a strategic investor,” the statement read. The union highlighted that the company needs significant funding to rebuild facilities, restore production capacity, and secure reliable power and raw material supplies. “This is capital that cannot be generated internally,” they stressed.
Rejecting the $60 Million Estimate: The Real Cost of Revival
One of the most striking points in the statement was the union’s rejection of claims that about $60 million would be enough to restore the smelter to efficient operation. “As the engineers, maintenance professionals and operations personnel who work on this plant every day, we reject that figure,” PMSU-VALCO stated.
According to the union, much of VALCO’s infrastructure has become obsolete, making simple refurbishment insufficient. “Our assessment, grounded in direct working knowledge of the asset base, is that the requirement is of the order of $700 million or more. That is not a marginal difference of opinion. It is a difference of more than a factor of ten,” the statement explained.
The union warned that investing only $60 million would provide temporary relief without addressing long-term challenges. “A $60 million intervention would not make VALCO efficient. It would consume public funds, deliver a short reprieve, and return the Company to the same position,” they added.
A Call for Transparency and Independent Scrutiny
PMSU-VALCO urged the government to publish the technical and financial basis for the $60 million estimate to allow for independent scrutiny. They also called for all competing proposals for the company’s revival to be subjected to transparent engineering and financial evaluation.
The union appealed to the media and the public to note that the ongoing demonstration does not reflect the position of VALCO’s professional staff. They cautioned that protests against the investor search could send the wrong signal to potential investors at a time when the company is seeking capital to revive its operations.
A Positive Vision for Ghana’s Aluminium Industry
“PMSU-VALCO remains committed to this Company, to its workforce, and to the revival of Ghana’s aluminium industry. We believe that revival requires serious capital and a serious partner, and we will continue to say so publicly,” the statement concluded.
This development is a clear signal that Ghana’s professionals are aligned with the government’s reform agenda. It shows that the business community and skilled workforce are ready to embrace bold investments to drive economic growth. For Ghana’s aluminium sector, this is a moment of opportunity — one that requires transparency, serious capital, and a shared vision for the future.