Kwami Sefa Kayi Gives 'Thumbs Up' To GIADEC

Host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi has commended Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) over its approach towards revitalizing the Integrated Aluminium Industry.

Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah had a vision to industrialize the economy and rolled out a plan for an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) with an operating bauxite mine in Awaso and the establishment of the VALCO smelter by Kaiser Aluminium of the United States of America.

But the overthrow of President Nkrumah aborted his vision and crippled the Integrated Aluminium Industry.

GIADEC

The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), established through an Act of Parliament - The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation Act, 2018 (Act 976) - and assented to in August 2018, has been mandated to promote and develop the IAI.

It currently holds 100 percent Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) and the 20 percent minority stake in Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) and additionally, the prospecting rights to all of Ghana’s approximately nine hundred million metric tonnes of bauxite have been novated to it.

As part of measures to fortify the IAI, GIADEC has developed an Outline Masterplan that underpins the execution of Ghana’s IAI.

Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah and his team paid a working visit to VALCO to inspect the progress of work and to also observe the processes of collecting bauxite samples for testing at the laboratory.

He was also introduced to state-of-the-art drilling machinery being used to conduct diamond drilling which, according to the Project Geologist, will help obtain quality or core samples that will be analyzed at the laboratory to check for alumina content.

Kudos

Speaking on the 'Kokrokoo' morning show, Mr. Sefa Kayi lauded the Government of Ghana and GIADEC for revisiting Nkrumah's dream.

"Do you know we are now revisiting the original plan that Kwame Nkrumah did for VALCO? Original plan for VALCO, bauxite, smeltering and so forth called integrated aluminium industry which is Nkrumah's original plan; when he was overthrown and the plan abolished, it was during President Kufour's regime that VALCO was bought back but it took a nose dive. President Mills also started to revamp it but unfortunately he passed on. It is now that GIADEC (Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Company) is making arrangements to revive and improve it," he said.