By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Ghana recorded a historic 1. 8 million metric tons of bauxite in 2024, the highest in the country’s 80-year bauxite mining record.
The figure is an increase from the previous record of 1.2 million metric tons.
Similarly, the country made a record 1. 7 million metric tons of the mineral to China and other Asian countries last year.
The General Manager of the Ghana Bauxite Company, Alexander Gyedu, disclosed these at Awaso, at the inauguration of a Community Relations Office to serve as the link between the bauxite mining communities within the Western North region.
The General Manager hinted also that, the bauxite mine, Ghana’s only wholly indigenous bauxite mining entity, projects to mine about 6 million metric tons by end of this year.
“To meet our production target of 6 million tons per year, Ghana Bauxite Company has made a substantial investment totaling $122. 8 M in robust fleet of equipment such as surface miner, haulage trucks, dump trucks, excavators and retooling of our existing and machinery”, Mr. Gyedu disclosed.
He said the objective of the mine is to gradually reduce its drill and blast operations while expanding surface mining activities.
This will enhance operational efficiencies, reduce environmental impacts, enhance resource recovery and reinforce their commitment to sustainability.
The General Manager disclosed again that, the Ghana Bauxite Company plans to build a refinery within the operational area soon to add value to the bauxite ore before exportation.
Touching the company’s commitment to its corporate social responsibility, he noted that in the past two years of the transition from foreign management to a local one, the number of employees has sharply increased from 483 to 1, 158 at the end of February this year with a corresponding upward adjustment in the number of female employees from 31 to 85 while all outsourced contract staff have now been regularized as part of the internal workforce.
Mr. Gyedu mentioned the Divisional Police, Awaso Chief’s palace, the Takoradi Naval Base and the Awaso-Atronsu link roads as having been positively impacted by investment by the company assuring that, with the opening of the Community Relations Office at Awaso, the catchment traditional areas will benefit more in socio-economic support.
The Western North Regional Minister, Wilberforce Bentum, commended management of the Ghana Bauxite Company for the positive strides made within the last two years.
He particularly laude the plans to establish a bauxite refinery in the area to refine the raw ore into an alumina for value addition, a project he noted, would add to the prospect of jobs creation for especially the youth in the region.
Mr. Bentum pledged his support to the company in its efforts to improve on its operations.
The Regional Minister however reminded the company that, the catchment communities own the mineral resource and must therefore benefit from its extraction.
The Omanhene of Sefwi Bekwai, Oyeadieyie Basape Kwame Armah, expressed a serious concern about the lack of socio-economic development within the Sefwi Bekwai and the Sefwi Bibiani-Anwiaso traditional areas despite 80 years of being a popular bauxite mining enclave.
According to him, every responsible mining operation must necessarily bring about shared opportunities for the catchment communities such as “jobs creation, infrastructural development, economic growth and sustainable environmental management but this has not been the case of the Sefwi bauxite mining areas.”
Oyeadieyie Basapeh Kwame Armah, however expressed confidence that, the situation would change for the better in the interest of a cordial community-mine relationship.
He commended the company for increasing the salary of its workers astronomically.
He said for instance, “the salary of labourers has increased from GHC400 to GHC1. 200 representing about 300% with similar adjustment in the remuneration of the skilled workforce.
The Ghana Bauxite Company is Ghana’s only bauxite mine and a wholly indigenous mining firm started about 80 years ago as the country’s primary source of premium alumina of 55 percent and low silica of two percent.
The Awaso mine concession covers 35 point-five square kilometres representing zero point-three percent of the entire land area of the Western North region with the Sefwi Bibiani, Anwiaso and Bekwai traditional areas being the major operational area. Awaso, for instance, has been famous over the years as bauxite mining town with a higher expectation that, this status would bring about substantial socio-economic development.
But, according to the chiefs and people of the catchment communities, there has been very little to show for in terms of development and job opportunities for the youth that has for decades been the source of friction between chiefs and people on one hand and the mine on the other.
But, in their quest for a peaceful coexistence and a win-win relationship going forward, the chiefs requested for a dedicated office to liaise between the operational communities and the management for amicable resolution of any concerns from the people, a request that has been granted.
