We’re not afraid of Ghana's competition – Dangote

Dangote Group, manufacturer of Dangote brand of Cement, said it remains determined to expand its operations in Ghana in spite of concerns being raised by local manufacturers about the impact of the importation of cement on their operations.

The manufacturers have in recent years expressed worry over the importation of cement into the country by the Chinese. They are also unhappy about the increasing volume of cement being brought into the country from neighboring Nigeria’s leading producer, Dangote.

Early this week, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, Chairman of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana which comprises GHACEM Limited and Diamond Cement Ghana Limited, told journalists in Accra that the local producers would be forced to down size if the practice continues.

According to him, the association had consistently indicated to government the capacity of its members to produce cement to meet local demand, which makes it pointless to permit the importation of the product. The association is particularly worried about the effect the influx is having on pricing.

But responding to a question on whether the company feels threatened by such concerns, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer at Dangote Group, Tony Chiejina, said the company is unperturbed by the “complains” from the local manufacturers. For him, the ability to survive in the face of competition is the mark of a “good business person”.

“If you’re afraid of competition, then you’re not a business person…business is control. If GHACEM and Diamond think that by complaining they’ll weaken us, that will rather embolden us to step up our action in Ghana”, he said.

The action he speaks of is fast taking shape in Ghana; the company boasts of providing the biggest employment in the industry through the acquisition of 1000 trucks to distribute cement to customers across the country. The construction of the second plant by Dangote Cement is underway in Takoradi – the Western part of Ghana.

The USD 100m investment has the capacity to produce 1.5 million metric tons of cement annually. This is also hoped to create more jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in and around Takoradi.