Work is ongoing on the construction of a state-of-the-art mill with the capacity to produce 0.8 million tonnes of cement at the Takoradi factory of Ghacem Limited.

Known as the Mill 5 plant, the facility when fully operational will add a 0.8million tonne capacity to the existing production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes in Takoradi, making a total of 2.0 million tonnes.

The capacity at the Tema plant had already increased to 2.2 million tonnes when the company invested in the Mill 5 plant.

This adds up to a total Ghacem capacity of 4.2million tonnes when Mill 5 comes on stream in Takoradi by the end of this year

Mr. Morten Gade, the Managing Director of Ghacem announced this in Kumasi at an event held by the company to honour its customers and distributors for their unflinching support over the years.

This year’s Customer Appreciation Night, which was held in Kumasi at the plush Golden Tulip Hotel, brought together customers from across the country to receive various awards for their loyalty

In addition to certificates given them, the awardees also received various allocations of cement in appreciation of their prime performances in 2013

International Contractor Consar Limited was crowned overall best Direct Customer for using close to about 35,000 tonnes of cement for its work in the year 2013 under review.

The Top Distributor award went to Isaac Owusu Ansah Enterprise of Kumasi Sales outlet for having sold about 75,000 tonnes of cement, while the renowned Nana K. Gyasi Co. Limited -- also from Kumasi Sales -- occupied the 1st Runner-up spot for having sold close to about 66,500 tonnes of cement. The 2nd Runner-up position went to Doris Appiah Enterprise, 5 times champion from Takoradi sales outlet, for having sold about 53,000 tonnes of cement.

Mr. Morten Gade thanked the award winners, observing that but for the loyalty and support of these customers and distributors GHACEM would not have become the leader in the cement business of the country since its establishment in August 1967.

“We, therefore, say Ayekoo and Afihyiapa to every one of you,” he said, and urged them to remain committed to the Ghacem cement brand which comes with quality.

Throwing more light on the event, Nana Philip Archer, the Commercial Director of Ghacem, said the company will continue to focus on its customers’ satisfaction by ensuring consistently high product quality through an efficient and effective distribution system, and also ensure availability of the product to create market presence throughout the country.

“Our cherished customers have worked hard to enable Ghacem maintain its market leadership position for close to 5 decades, and we sincerely appreciate their efforts,” he said.

On his part, Nana Owusu Ansah, Chairman of the Kumasi Ghacem distributors association, on behalf of the distributors bemoaned the influx of foreign cement products which are cheaper on the market and appealed to the Ministry of trade and Industry to as a matter of urgency investigate the matter and remedy the situation.

He commended Ghacem for staying close to its partners at all times, and urged them to further improve upon their operations to remain the market leader and truly the nation-builder.