By Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
President Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that Ghana will soon stop exporting raw bauxite, as there are plans to refine the mined bauxite before it leaves the shores of the country.
In his speech during the 67th Independence Day celebration at Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, the President mentioned that Ghana will see an end to a decade of raw bauxite exports soon.
“We are finally coming to an end of decades of exporting raw bauxite from the country. We shall now refine bauxite, mined in Ghana to produce aluminium that will feed the VALCO smelter and the downstream aluminium industry,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also emphasised that the bauxite refinery will have a significant impact on the industrialization phase of Ghana. According to him, the production of motor parts, roofing sheets, and household items from the refined bauxite will immensely contribute to the industrialization of the country, which will impact the economy positively.
He also bemoaned how litigation over the Atiwa Forest had delayed the Eastern Region’s opportunity to have their share of the bauxite refinery. He expressed that once the litigation is over, the refinery will help deliver employment and high-paying jobs for the people.
“As an indigene, it is my hope that once litigations over the Atiwa Forest Range in Kyebi is settled, we will be able to development also the Kyebi Bauxite mine and refinery that will help deliver employment and high paid jobs for our people,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo projected the Ada Songor Salt Project which is being undertaken by the Electrichem group led by Mr. Daniel McKorley, as one major on-stream move by the government that will bring a significant change to Ghana’s economy.
