Ghacem downplays reports of cement shortage

Cement manufacturer, GHACEM has down played adverse impact of reported shortage of the cement product on the market.

The company says the reported shortage is temporal.

Strategic and Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah told Joy News Television the shortage is as a result of fault which occurred on a transformer being operated by its rival company, Diamond Cement Company based at Aflao in the Volta Region.

According to Dr Dawson-Ahmoah, GHACEM continues to produce cement and is even contemplating increasing production capacity to 2.2 million tonnes by the end of the month to meet growing demands.

The shortage of the commodity was reported in many parts of the country last week.

The Ghana Real Estates Developers Association (GREDA) said the construction sector is bearing the full brunt of the shortages with some real estate companies laying off workers.

But GHACEM says there is no cause for alarm as they expect the situation to normalise in a few days.

A bag of cement last year sold at GH¢10.35 but shot up to GH¢13.34 because of the instability of the Ghanaian cedi.

Interestingly, distributers have a different price for a bag of cement which ranges between GH¢ 18.00 to GH¢ 26.00.

In a telephone interview, the Commercial Head of Diamond Cement Company, Arden Boachie said the transformer was destroyed by lightening following a recent rainstorm.

He said repair works were on-going for production to resume.