The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)-Ghana has staged a protest against the alleged sale of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), insisting that any move to transfer ownership could threaten workers’ livelihoods.
The protest follows months of concerns raised by some VALCO workers, who since January 2026 have alleged that the company is being prepared for sale under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah.
The workers have also called for his removal.
Despite repeated assurances from the GIADEC CEO that VALCO is not being sold, the ICU maintains that it remains unconvinced.
GIADEC has consistently stated that it is pursuing a co-ownership arrangement with a private sector partner rather than an outright sale of the company.
Addressing protesters on Monday, July 27, ICU-Ghana General Secretary Morgan Ayawine said the demonstration was aimed at safeguarding jobs and preserving what he described as one of Ghana’s strategic state-owned enterprises.
“July 27, 2026, is a great day. It is a day for the determination of our destiny as patriotic citizens of this country. We are here to determine the fate of one of the premier companies that was bequeathed by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to all of us,” he said.
Ayawine argued that successive governments had sought to divest state assets and warned against any attempt to do the same with VALCO.
“It has been noticed that over the years, government after government has attempted to sell everything, and now they are at it again, and they want to sell VALCO.
“We are not here to do politics. We are not partisan politicians. We are labour unions, and our duty is to ensure that jobs are created,” he stated.
