Ghana Bauxite Company has achieved its highest ever annual bauxite production figure, recording 1.8 million metric tonnes exported through the Port of Takoradi in 2024. The milestone — celebrated at a ceremony in Accra — marks 80 years since the first cargo of Ghanaian bauxite sailed from Takoradi on 15 May 1940.
A Step-Change in Operations
The record output is the result of sustained investment in equipment, logistics, and port infrastructure. GBC has invested $122.8 million in heavy equipment over recent years, transitioning from traditional drill-and-blast mining to modern surface mining methods.
General Manager Alexander Gyedu described the transformation: “We have modernised every aspect of our operations — from the mine face to the port stockpile — and the results speak for themselves.”
Workforce Growth and Wages
Beyond production records, the company highlighted remarkable growth in employment:
- Total workforce has grown from 483 to 1,158 employees — a more than twofold increase
- Female employees increased from 31 to 85, reflecting deliberate efforts to improve gender inclusion in mining
- All contract workers have been converted to permanent staff, providing job security across the workforce
- Laborer base salaries rose from GH₵ 400 to GH₵ 1,200 — a 300% increase
Premium-Grade Bauxite
GBC’s trihydrate bauxite from the Awaso concession carries 52% alumina content and just 1.5% silica — specifications that place it among the highest-grade bauxite deposits in West Africa and sustain strong demand from aluminium producers in China and Europe.
The Road Ahead
GBC is now targeting a further increase in annual production capacity to 2.5 million metric tonnes, with an ambitious longer-term goal of 6 million tonnes as infrastructure and mine expansion projects reach maturity.
Executive Chairman Mr. Isaac Ofori-Poku described the achievement as a defining moment: “This record production demonstrates what GBC is capable of when we invest strategically in our people, our equipment, and our infrastructure. It is a platform from which we will continue to grow.”
Originally reported by GBC Ghana Online. Read original article →