Manufacturing sector key to robust economy - Ghacem MD

Government and policy makers have been charged to pay critical attention to the manufacturing sector by giving it the necessary support for growth.

The Managing Director of Ghacem Limited, Mr. Morten Gade making a statement observed that the manufacturing sector played vital role such as employment generation, use of local raw materials and contribute significantly in the payment of duties and taxes which he argued are the key indicators of a robust economy.

Mr. Gade was speaking at the GHACEM Cement Foundation (GCF) Northern Sector Awards in Sunyani, where selected health and educational institutions in the Northern Sector of the country which includes; Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo were present to received a total of 10,190 bags of cement at a cost of about GH¢326,000.

The Southern Sector which includes; Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western and Eastern Region also received a total of 15,000 bags valued at GH¢ 480,000 at a similar event held a fortnight ago in Cape Coast.

Through its GHACEM Cement Foundation (GCF), the company annually gives cement to institutions across the country grouped into Southern and Northern sectors.

Mr. Gade lamented that although unfair trade practices in the cement industry had hugely affected its production, the company would continue in good spirit the GCF to support self help projects in a bid to add its quota towards national development.

He further debated that cement manufacturing companies have the installed capacity of 9 million tones as against an average national consumption of 5 million tones given a surplus installed capacity of 4 million tones “and with this huge excess in supply there is no need to continue the importation of bagged cement into the country which has no added values in terms of industrial competence, employment, direct investment, local sub-contracting and the use of local raw materials”

Mr. Gade also seized the occasion to invite Ghanaians to join the company this year as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee. “We are marking 50 years of major development, having been used for major monuments in Ghana for the past 50 years and the next 50 years to come.

Welcoming beneficiaries, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, a Council Member of the GCF reaffirmed the annual donation of free cement by the foundation was a demonstration of Ghacem’s commitment towards playing a key role in the development of Ghana. She urged the beneficiaries to use the cement for the intended purpose and spread the word by informing others to apply.

On his part, Chairman of the foundation, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI disclosed that about 4,500 communities have received a total of 500,000 bags of cement from the Ghacem Cement Foundation (GCF) since its inception in 2002

He emphasized the objective of the foundation, was to assist Government in infrastructural development. “Ghacem is a company with conscience and although it obliges to all its financial obligations including taxes and duties, the GCF since its inception has annually given free bags of cement to the development of Ghana”