Head of Technical Services at Rocksure International Limited (a mining company), Godfried Addo Ayisi, has emphasized that Ghana’s bauxite reserves can be responsibly mined without causing harm to forest reserves.
This can be achieved through the adoption of best mining practices and environmental protection measures, including reclamation and reforestation. He highlighted that Ghana possesses over two billion metric tonnes of untapped bauxite resources in various locations, except for Awaso.
Mr. Ayisi stressed the importance of employing surface mining techniques that safeguard the biodiversity of the forest reserves housing these mineral resources.
He shared these insights during a lecture titled “Overview of Ghana’s Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI)” at the 11th Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the University of Mines and Technology (ALUMat).
This lecture, held at the UMaT School of Railway and Infrastructure Development in Essikado, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, was sponsored by Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Quantum LC Company Limited, Rocksure International Limited, and Impa Marine and Offshore Logistics Limited.
Mr. Ayisi underscored that Ghana could fully benefit from bauxite mining by implementing appropriate strategies to manage and add value to this natural resource.
He pointed out that while Ghana has been exporting bauxite ore since the 1940s, it has only benefited from the mining aspect, whereas countries like Ukraine, China, and Brazil have capitalized on the upstream aspects, including refining alumina and smelting it into aluminum.
Mr. Ayisi also mentioned that from May to March 2022, the price of bauxite in Ghana stood at $29 per metric ton.
“This represented a decrease of $3 compared to the prices between February 2018 and April 2020, except for July and October 2018 each which recorded prices of $31.97 per metric ton”, he added.
Mr Ayisi said the world market price of the bauxite ore, alumina and the aluminum showed that the prices increase about tenfold from bauxite ore to alumina and about eight-fold from alumina to aluminium, saying, “Indeed, from bauxite ore to aluminium the prices increase about 70 times”.
A lot more work had to be done to ensure a globally competitive aluminum industry across the entire value chain, he claimed, despite the government’s attempts to improve the IAI through the establishment of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) in 2018 and other initiatives.
“Through a series of engagements with the Government of Ghana stakeholder organisations, GIADEC has developed a Strategic Outline Master plan for Ghana’s IAl which includes, supporting infrastructure projects such as the Western Rail Line to facilitate bauxite transportation and expansion of the Takoradi Port to facilitate bauxite ore and alumina export among others”, he noted.
Mr. Ayisi pointed out the abundance of prospects for enhancing domestic aluminum product manufacturing. He stressed that this could be realized by fostering inter-agency cooperation aimed at diminishing the need for imports of such goods.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, emphasized the importance of adding value to bauxite processing within Ghana. He highlighted that this approach would contribute significantly to the country’s GDP, in contrast to the present practice of exporting raw bauxite from the nation.
Professor Richard Amankwah, UMaT Vice-Chancellor, commended the ALUMaT for organising the lecture, saying “These lectures have been helpful in growing the brand and reputation of UMaT, and have supported the University in implementing its mandates.”
Dr. Stephen K. Ndede, the National President of ALUMaT, highlighted that the annual lecture serves as a platform for uniting former and current students to engage in discussions about industry-related matters, with the goal of reshaping the University into a center of excellence and contributing to the overall development of the nation.
Conducted every October, this event attracts the participation of alumni, current students, faculty members, former Vice-Chancellors, and other individuals connected to the University.