The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has taken a bold step towards ensuring quality assurance in the cement manufacturing industry. The GSA has shut down the operations of three cement manufacturing companies in the Ashanti Region due to the use of inferior materials in their cement production.
Companies Affected
The companies affected are Xin An Safe Cement Ghana Ltd, Kumasi Cement Ghana Ltd, and Uniceme Cement Ghana Ltd. The clampdown exercise is part of a larger effort to crack down on substandard cement production across the country under the auspices of the parent Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Measures Taken by the GSA
In addition to the closure of the companies, the GSA has prohibited the construction of new cement factories pending a streamlined permit issuance process by regulatory institutions.
Reasons for the Measures
The move is aimed at addressing the government's concerns about standards, quality assurance, and environmental safeguards in cement production.
Statement from the Director-General of the GSA
The Director-General of the GSA, Professor Alex Dodoo, emphasized the importance of streamlining industries that create sustainable jobs that drive growth. "What we are doing is ensuring fair trade and stability in the manufacturing space. We stand a chance of making this country a hub for manufacturing for the global market, and trust is key for any major player who wants to invest in the country," he said.
Cement Quality Audits and Surveillance
As part of the ongoing cement quality audits and surveillance, officers from GSA visited the factories to inspect and sample bagged cements as well as constituent materials used for the production of cement for laboratory tests. The test results from Xin An Safe Cement Ghana Ltd indicated that limestone did not conform to the requirements for Calcium Carbonate content in the product, and mineral identification analysis also showed that the sample was Feldspar and Quartz.
Similar letters were sent to Kumasi Cement Ghana Ltd and Uniceme Cement Ghana Ltd. Official test results indicated that Gypsum did not conform to the requirements for per cent Calcium Sulphate as required in the standard, GS C22/C22M-00 (2015), while limestone did not conform to the requirements for Calcium Carbonate content as required in the standard, GS 1118:2016.
Plans for the Future
Prof. Dodoo stressed that Feldspar and Quartz were not recommended major constituents of cement and, as such, their use as major constituents by some cement manufacturers should be stopped forthright. He revealed that plans were underway to establish factories to manufacture a substitute for clinker with local resources to help reduce the importation of clinker, which is a major component for the manufacturing of Portland cement in the country.
Collaboration with Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG)
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG), Rev. Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, said COCMAG was collaborating with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop optimal environment, safety and cement quality standards. This collaboration will ensure the growth of the country's cement industry while combating unfair trade practices whenever they arise.
Environmental Benefits of Substituting Clinker with Calcined Clay
Substituting clinker with calcined clay in cement production will have immense environmental benefits. Globally, cement production accounts for about 7.5 per cent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Using calcined clay to minimize the need for traditional, carbon-intensive clinker would be a major advancement towards eliminating the negative environmental footprint from cement production.
Key Players in the Cement Industry in Ghana
The cement industry has companies such as Ghacem, Diamond Cement, Dangote Cement, CIMAF, Savannah Cement, Gyata Cement, and CBI Ghana. The GSA's clampdown exercise will ensure that these companies maintain high standards in their operations while promoting sustainable growth in the industry.
(This article is sourced from graphic.com.gh and curated by Monica Bellew | Mydailyreports24)
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