NDUOM COMMENDS GOVT FOR REVAMPING VALCO (PAGE 14)

The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has commended the government of Ghana for the efforts put in to retain and revamp the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO ) as an economic entity for the country.
He said “though I am in opposition , I support the government’s efforts, which confirms that Ghanaians could manage their own affairs”.
Dr Nduom made the remarks when he visited the plant to ascertain the status of the machinery and difficulties being encountered by the management of VALCO, to enable the party to position itself to assist if voted into power in the December 2008 general election. He said the CPP was very confident in winning power and therefore would not wait but take steps to prepare for the task ahead.
The flag bearer said VALCO was Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s vision and was built under the CPP government and therefore he had interest in it to ensure it did not go to waste.
Dr Nduom, who was shown round the plant by the Managing Director of VALCO, Mr Emmanuel Lartey, inspected various sections and observed some work being done in the plant.
He commended the management for modernising the equipment and infrastructure to ensure a smooth take-off.
Dr Nduom observed that VALCO was capable of producing 99.9 per cent pure aluminium for export because the country had the requisite raw materials to feed the plant.
He gave the assurance that if voted into power the CPP would give all the needed assistance to VALCO to ensure vibrancy in its operations to enable it to beef up the economic growth of the country.
Dr Nduom urged the management of VALCO to take advantage of the oil find to make it a gain and not a curse as was being speculated by some people.
He stated that the company must create meaningful jobs for the youth in and around Tema to reduce unemployment in the system.
Dr Nduom appealed to workers and the management of the company to put in their best to make VALCO one of the leading aluminium companies in the world.
The Managing Director said VALCO was ready to start operations and gave the assurance that it would be capable of competing with other world aluminium companies.
He explained that the company had computerised most of its systems and were under strict supervision.
Mr Lartey said some of the company’s youthful staff had been introduced to the systems and were currently undergoing training in how to handle and operate the computerised systems.
He stated that VALCO did not compromise on safety and therefore ensured that regulations were adhered to strictly.
Mr Lartey did not state when the plant would start but said the plant had been positioned ready to start work.
Some workers were, however, found busily going through the process of producing aluminium ingots when the flag bearer toured the plant.
He said bauxite would be mined locally to feed the plant and this would make VALCO an integrated aluminium production company.
Mr Lartey expressed the gratitude of the management to the CPP and its flag bearer for the interest they had shown in the operations of the company.
Dr Nduom was accompanied by the party’s Campaign Strategist, Mr David Ampofo, and the Tema East CPP parliamentary candidate, Mr Richter Nii Armaah.