GHACEM donates to health, educational institutions
GHACEM Limited has donated a total of 12,930 bags of cement to selected health and educational institutions in deprived communities in the Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern and Volta regions.
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The cement, valued at GH¢450,000, is a support package for the institutions which are currently undertaking various infrastructural projects.
Through its GHACEM Cement Foundation (GCF), the company annually gives cement to institutions across the country grouped into southern and northern sectors.
Commitment
Welcoming beneficiaries to the presentation ceremony, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, a council member of the foundation, lauded the beneficiary institutions for presenting themselves to receive their allocations.
She said the demonstrated commitment should always remind Ghacem of the vital role “it plays in the infrastructural development of the country”.
The Managing Director of Ghacem, Mr Morten Gade, re-affirmed the company’s leadership role in the cement industry in Ghana since 1967 and added that “in solidifying the commanding role we are proud to have supported deprived communities in the country for 14 years running, a feat no other cement player has been able to match”.
“This year, the Council approved 30,000 bags and today over 12,000 bags will be given to 161 institutions in the southern sector after a vigorous screening process to ensure applicants meet the criteria for donation for us to make a meaningful impact on the project,” he said.
Harsh economic environment
Mr Gade, however, noted that the harsh economic environment in which the company operated undermained the company’s ability to sustain this annual gesture.
He particularly mentioned high electricity tariffs, a situation he described as having an adverse effect on the company’s production, and appealed to government to speedily review electricity tariffs to save the industry.
The cement industry, he added, had also received with joy government’s proposed legislation on the importation of cheap cement which was crippling the industry.
“We hope when fully implemented, there will be greater transparency in the cement industry, a move critical to our goal of a fair, competitive industry.”
He gave an assurance that Ghacem would go the extra mile to meet the needs and expectations of its customers and urged the public to keep patronising the company’s products so that it could continue to support schools and hospitals in the country.
Requests
For his part, the Chairman of the foundation, Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI, the Paramount Chief of Assin Kushea, expressed worry that although there was equity in the distribution of cement, some regions continued to present low requests and urged leaders and stakeholders in the various regions to show interest and assist their people to apply.
Nana Prah said an estimated 4,263 communities had benefitted from the Cement foundation since its inception in 2002, adding that “this is a demonstration of the company’s pledge towards supporting development in Ghana as a good corporate citizen who does not only pay taxes and dividend to government but equally supports government’s development agenda”.
A beneficiary of the donation, Dr Gudjinu Horlali Yao of Kute Clinic in the Jasikan District, observed that the donation was devoid of any political bias and bureaucratic bottlenecks and added that “provided there’s genuine need, Ghacem does not look at who is behind it, which is laudable”.
