VEEP complains about high cost of cement

Accra, Oct.4, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Tuesday asked cement producers to explore the use of lime and other local materials to beat down the price of the essential commodity. He said the high price differentials from one region to the other made projects expensive as one moved up North.

Alhaji Mahama was interacting with Dr Bob Scheiffele, Board Chairman of Heidelberg Cement Group; external owners of Ghana Cement Factory (GHACEM) when he paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle Osu. A bag of cement, which sells at 53,000 cedis in Accra, is sold at 72,000 cedis in Tamale; Bolgatanga at 75,000 cedis and 78,000 cedis at Wa.

The Vice President suggested the need for GHACEM to work out the distribution and pricing of cement in other to make the price differentials marginal.

He commended the Company for establishing GHACEM Cement Foundation, which had donated cement towards the rehabilitation of schools and healthy centres in deprived communities. Dr Scheiffele said the Group invested in Ghana in 1967 and was desirous to continue to deepen its economic ties with the West African State.

He expressed the hope that the recent cancellation of Ghana's debts by the G-8 countries was going to boost the economy. Dr Scheiffele said GHACEM would take up the challenge of using local materials to produce cement.