Workers of Diamond Cement, local cement manufacturing company say they risk losing their jobs following the influx of Nigeria’s Dangote bagged cement into the country which is affecting the production capacity of the company.
Diamond Cement has raised concerns about Dangote’s involvement in the retail of cement in Ghana. They accused government of giving undue advantage to Dangote Cement by allowing them to import bagged cements which sell at cheaper prices.
According to management of the local firm, the importation of bagged cement has reduced the annual sales and production capacity of Diamond Cement from 1.8 million bags to 1.3 million bags.
The workers who spoke to Citi News expressed fears that Diamond Cement may resort to downsizing to stay in business as a result of the situation. They told Citi News the reduction in production is gradually affecting them because they report for work only to find out there is no work to be done.
“Due to the unfair competition, if we call our customers to buy cement, they tell us Dangote Cement is bringing them cement. We are losing our jobs; we pack our trucks and there is no cement to load.”
Diamond Cement Ghana Ltd in Aflao is perhaps the only major company in the Volta Region, after Juapong Textile Limited. The youth of Aflao have staged series of demonstrations to compel government to address the situation.
Meanwhile Chairman of the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMAG), George Dawson Amoah, has asked government to expedite actions on resolving the issue to ensure a level playing field for all cement producers in the country.
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