Accra, April 4, GNA - GHACEM Limited has in the last three years made an annual donation of 30,000 bags of cement amounting to 1.6 billion cedis to promote the development of deprived communities. The donation, which falls under the GHACEM Foundation, formed part of the company's programme of assistance towards total national development.

A total of 640 beneficiaries mainly from the northern sector have so far benefited from the donation of about 100,000 bags of cement. The Ga Mantse's Palace is the latest recipient from the Foundation with a gift of 500 bags of cement valued at 25 million cedis. Miss Abena Konadu Agyeman, immediate Past Communications Manager of GHACEM said this at a soiree organised by the company to interact with media personnel in Accra.

Mr Morten Gade, Managing Director of GHACEM, said in addition to the assistance that came under the foundation's package, Ghacem paid 22 million dollars as part of its tax obligation to the state last year. He said the company was concerned about the escalating and uneven prices and marketing of cement in the country and that was why it was being careful since the middle of last year not raise prices of the commodity even though the cost of raw materials and production kept rising.

Mr Gade said the company was streamlining its operations in view of the challenges, especially the pricing of the commodity as the company was now facing stiff competition from other producers and importers of cement.

He said GHACEM wanted to ensure its responsibility of maintaining its status of producing high quality cement to serve the Ghanaian market and is therefore looking for possible cheaper transportation sources to at least make the price of cement on the local market affordable.

It has also increased its dispatch capacities at its Tema and Takoradi factories, invested in additional capacities and making efforts at improving the functions of its regional depots across the country for efficient services.

He said the company was committed to creating employment and therefore tapping the use of local raw materials such as limestone to produce cement to make Ghacem more competitive on the Ghanaian market. Mr Gade called on the government to protect local industries to meet their additional operational requirements such as the high cost of electricity. 04 April 06