VALCO expands into high-value aluminium production for local and European markets

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is transitioning from a producer of primary aluminium into a manufacturer of high-value aluminium products for both the domestic and European markets.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Buah said VALCO recorded strong operational and financial performance in the first half of 2026, driven by efforts to improve efficiency, increase production, and strengthen the company’s competitiveness in the aluminium industry.

He said the company’s progress aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of promoting value addition and industrial transformation in Ghana.

According to the Minister, VALCO achieved a major milestone last year with the installation of its first value-addition production line — an aluminium electrical rod mill. The facility is currently undergoing test production and is producing aluminium electrical rods for the local market and export to Europe.

Buah said the new production line represents a significant shift in VALCO’s operations, moving the company beyond the production of primary aluminium into the manufacturing of value-added products.

He noted that once fully operational, the rod mill will support local industrialisation, strengthen downstream manufacturing, create sustainable jobs, and increase Ghana’s export earnings.

The Minister added that the project will help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported aluminium products while improving the country’s position in the global aluminium value chain.

Buah described VALCO as a “sleeping giant” that is gradually regaining its strength through strategic investments and reforms aimed at positioning the company as a key driver of Ghana’s industrial growth.