Mr Morgan Ayawine, the General Secretary, Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)—Ghana, has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders to stabilize Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO’s) operations for the benefit of the country.
Mr Ayawine urged the leadership of VALCO to explore all lawful means to recapitalize the company without resorting to equity divestment.
“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.
This was in a speech read by Mr Emmanuel Baah Benimah, the Deputy General Secretary of the Union on behalf of Mr Ayawine during the inauguration of the newly elected local union executives of VALCO in Tema.
Mr Benimah administered the Oath of Office to the elected Union Officers.
He said a strategic asset like the VALCO must be protected and preserved, not only in the national interest but also for future generations.
“The time has come for Ghana to strengthen its ownership of national assets and move away from reliance on royalties, which often represent only a fraction of the true value of such assets,” he said.
He called on the management of VALCO to support the effort to protect and preserve the strategic asset of the company and not sacrifice it for short-term convenience.
Mr Ayawine urged the management to engage constructively with the workers to address any dispute to ensure industry harmony.
“As a human institution, disagreements are inevitable, but they must be managed with wisdom and mutual respect,” he said.
Mr Ayawine urged the newly elected local union executives to be circumspect in the discharge of their duties.
“Do not act in ways that the National Union would not endorse. We stand for fairness, justice, and industrial harmony.
“In essence, do not do to Management what you would not expect Management to do to you.”
Mr Samuel Agyeman is the elected Chairman of VALCO Local Union, Uel Uzziel Matekole is the Vice Chairman, and Mr. David Kwebena Yeboah is the Secretary.
Mr James Appiah is the Assistant Secretary, Mr Joseph Agbanyo is the first trustee, with Nii Okai Tagoe as the second trustee.
The rest are Mr Joseph Atsu Damalie as executive member, Mr. Frank Annang as the Youth Representative, Ms Gifty Nyanful as Women Representative and Mark Spears Tetteh as Chief Shop Steward.
