Ghana Standards Authority clamps down on three cement factories for using inferior materials
The Ghana Standards Authority(GSA) has shut down three cement factories in the Ashanti Region for using inferior materials in production.
The three companies, Xin An Safe Cement Ghana Ltd., located at Ejisu; Kumasi Cement Ghana Ltd., located at Offinso; and Uniceme Cement Ghana Ltd., located at Bekwai, all in the Ashanti Region, were closed down by GSA to dissuade other companies from resorting to inferior materials for production.
Moreover, GSA’s decision to monitor and clamp down on substandard cement manufacturing companies is to assist quality existing companies to grow and flourish locally and beyond Ghana’s borders.
Professor Alexander Dodoo, the Director-General of the GSA, said in an interview with the Daily Graphic, monitored by The Ghana Report that the exercise was to address the government’s concerns about standards, quality assurance, and environmental safeguards in cement production.
“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”.
“At Xin An Safe Cement Ghana Ltd, a test result showed that limestone did not conform to the requirements for Calcium Carbonate content in the product”.
Also, “mineral identification analysis also showed that the sample was Feldspar and Quartz”.
A letter from the GSA to Xin An Safe Cement stated, “In view of this, you are instructed to cease operation/production henceforth until the use of the approved raw materials”.
“At Kumasi Cement Ghana Ltd., official test results indicated that Gypsum did not conform to the requirements for Calcium Sulphate 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”.
“Similarly, test results from samples taken at the Unicem Cement Ghana Ltd showed that limestone did not conform to the requirements for Calcium Carbonate content, and mineral identification analysis showed that the sample was Feldspar”.