Tema, Jan 09, GNA -- The Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) has honoured 40 distributors and customers nationwide at Tema with the assurance that the company would meet the challenges of the competition in the cement industry.

Mr Bjarne Schmidt, the Managing Director, said GHACEM has put in place a "capacity project" that will solve problems like milling and packing.

The award winners sold over 64,000 tons of cement in 2004. Madam Akosua Dwemo of Cadmac Ventures at Takoradi emerged the overall best distributor.

Madam Dwemo was given a trophy, parcels and bags of cement all worth 120 million cedis.

Long serving and loyal distributors as well as contractors also received awards.

The Managing Director admitted that the company faced production problems in 2004 that resulted in some interruptions in its supplies. As part of its social responsibility, GHACEM has provided 300 communities with 35,000 bags of cement valued at over one billion cedis. Touching on the just ended 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections Mr Schmidt commended Ghana for the peaceful event that "has won the respect of the international community. As a united people you have demonstrated that democracy can work in Africa".

Mr Schmidt, whose three-year term of office ends at the end of this month, introduced Mr Morten Gade as his successor.