George Wilkinson

VALCO Is Quietly Waking Up — And It Could Change Ghana’s Industrial Story

For over 15 years, VALCO was basically on life support.
Running at just 23% capacity. Barely breaking even. Waiting for a miracle.
That wait, according to new management, is over.

At a media tour in Tema, VALCO’s acting CEO Dr. Robert Makila Sambian laid out a plan that labelled bold would be an understatement. If it works, VALCO could create 5,000 direct jobs, pull in over $1 billion a year, and add more than 1% to Ghana’s GDP.

Here’s the big shift:
VALCO is no longer content exporting raw aluminum and bleeding money. For the first time since the 1960s, the smelter has started test-producing finished aluminum products, electrical conductor rods, right here in Ghana. Samples are already in Europe for certification.

Behind the scenes, they’ve moved fast. New equipment. More operational potlines. A push to scale from 122 cells to 150 by year-end. Plans to switch to cheaper natural gas. Even systems to recycle waste and cut environmental damage.

But the real ambition goes further. Management wants VALCO fully integrated, from refining bauxite to finished products, turning Ghana’s raw materials into industrial muscle, not just exports.

Dr. Sambian summed it up simply:
VALCO stopped waiting for help and decided to fix itself.

If this revival holds, VALCO won’t just be “back.”
It could become one of the strongest pillars of Ghana’s industrial future.

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The Government is transforming the 24 Hour Economy Secretariat

Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy is no longer just a policy idea. Government is moving to turn it into law.
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Cabinet has approved a bill to transform the 24-Hour Economy

Secretariat into a full statutory 24 Hour Economy Authority, which will now go to Parliament.
Once passed, the Authority will regulate the initiative, register participating businesses, and roll out incentives such as financing access, standards, and operational support for companies willing to operate round the clock.

Some sectors have already begun. Tema and Takoradi ports now run 24/7. The Passport Office, foreign missions, and Ghana Publishing Company have adopted shift systems. Government has also set up a 24-hour policing unit to support security nationwide.

The programme has been allocated GH¢110 million, with full implementation expected by the end of 2026.

However, concerns remain. Many SMEs say extended operations come with higher costs, especially electricity, water, staffing, and security, at a time when utility reliability remains uneven.

Government maintains that the new Authority will help address these gaps through incentives and structured support.

One thing is certain: Ghana is now formally committing to an economy that works beyond the traditional 9 t0 5, with productivity, jobs, and investment as the main targets.

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