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03.12.2009 General News

Brick and tile manufacturers cry for gov`t support

By Michael Boateng - Ghanaian Chronicle
Brick and tile manufacturers  cry for govt support
03.12.2009 LISTEN

Brick and tile manufacturers in the Brong-Ahafo Region have called on the government to come out with a policy that would help sustain the industry, since most of the manufacturing companies are on the verge of collapsing, due to the low patronage of their products.

According to the manufacturers, the government can achieve its aim of creating more jobs for the youth to mitigate the issue of irregular migration, as well as generate enough revenue, if it considers supporting the brick and tile industry.

They emphasised that Ghana is blessed with rich natural clay, which is the raw material for the production of quality bricks and tiles for the construction industry, which when utilised could help save the country huge sums of money.

Speaking in separate interviews with the managing directors of the Adantia Bricks and Tiles Company Limited, and Paramount Housing and Clay Enterprise, Mr. Kofi Sarfo Sakyi and Mr. Emmanuel Kwame Mensah respectively, they both explained the amount used to import clinker for the manufacturing of cement could be reduced to save the country enough income, if the use of local bricks and tiles is adopted.

According to the two MDs, the government's commitment to support the growth of private sector should not continually be the form of lip-service, but must be a reality, to make it really the engine of economic growth.

Mr. Kofi Sarfo Sakyi admitted that the manufacturing companies cannot depend on government for their sustainability, but a little support could help improve the economic situation of the industry.

He appealed that the government should give support in upgrading the technical know-how of the manufacturers in the production of brick and tiles to meet international standards, whilst helping them acquire modern equipment for identification and production of quality products.

Mr. Sakyi stressed that their equipment were obsolete and affects their work, and need to be upgraded, but the funding to do all this is hard to come by.

He noted that awareness creation on the quality and importance of the use of brick and tiles in building is minimal, since the cost of advocacy is very high, suggesting that it would be prudent for a policy to be initiated, so that various District Assemblies would liaise with the manufacturers, so that, at least, a percentage of their products could be used for the construction of public facilities like school buildings among others.

On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Kwame Mensah of Paramount Housing and Clay Enterprise, lauded the recent pronouncement by the government to embark on a housing scheme for farmers, pleading that the government should consider the use of brick for the intended projects, to create more jobs for the youth, and help sustain the industry as well.

He disclosed that his company had already initiated a similar project, called “Cocoa Farmers Housing Loan Program,” which is part of a technical assistance program developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in collaboration with Newmont Ghana Gold Limited.

Mr. Mensah continued that a loan package of GH¢300,000,000 had been assigned for the implementation, and that eligible cocoa farmers are required to apply for the housing loan from Paramount Housing and Clay Enterprise, which is to commence January 1 next year.

Pix: (top) The front view of the kiln for firing the clay products. (right middle) Some of the finished products. (bottom left) Mr. Emmanuel Mensah, MD, Paramount Housing and Clay. (bottom right) Mr. Kofi Sarfo Sakyi, MD, Adantia Brick and Tile

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