The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), Mr. Kwabena Bonsu Fordwor has been sworn in as a board member of the newly constituted board.
The nine-member governing board chaired by Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi Constituency, was inaugurated on September 1, 2021 by the Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The board is expected to lead a call to drive economic improvement of the steel industry, create jobs and attract investment.
Kwabena Fordwor was appointed in 2019 as the first CEO of the corporation after its establishment in 2019.
He has since facilitated the exploration of the nation’s iron ore resources and promotion/attraction through public-local and foreign private partnership since the establishment of the corporation investments.
The Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, tasked the board to continuously ensure that the exploitation of iron ore to produce steel is to Ghana’s maximum benefit.
The newly sworn-in board chairman, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, said together with the board members and other stakeholders, he would hit the ground running by embarking on massive exploration of Ghana’s iron ore deposit.
“A strategic Master-Plan shall drive a sustainable value creation in the iron and steel industry for all stakeholders along the chain, and all these are projected to be achieved within a year- that is by the end of 2022, ″ he said.
In regards to community and sustainability development, Kwabena Fordwor indicated that GIISDEC is committed to the welfare of the communities in which they operate, and actively work with them to improve their socio-economic wellbeing in various ways, including the creation of employment and the provision of some essential services.
He also indicated that he envisions a future where Ghana will be a leading producer and promoter of steel and its associated products in the sub-region and beyond.
An act of Parliament established the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) in March 2019 to develop and promote an Integrated Iron and Steel Industry.
Other members of the newly inaugurated board include George Mireku Duker (Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Rep), Michael Okyere Baafi (Ministry of Trade and Industry Rep), Mr Martin Kwaku Ayisi (Minerals Commission Rep), Mr Kay F. Amoah (Jnr) Esq. (Presidents Nominee), Mr Ernest Kusi(Presidents Nominee) Mad Hanifa Yahaya (Esq) (Presidents Nominee).