Businessman and entrepreneur Ibrahim Mahama has called for greater confidence in Ghanaian entrepreneurs and urged the government to introduce deliberate policies to support the growth of more locally owned businesses and industrial enterprises.
The Founder, Sole Shareholder and Group Chief Executive Officer of DZATA Holdings made the call during the fifth anniversary celebration of Dzata Cement, Ghana’s wholly Ghanaian-owned cement manufacturing company in Tema.
According to Mr Mahama, entrepreneurship should go beyond establishing a profitable company. He believes successful businesses should be structured to survive their founders and create opportunities for future generations.
Ibrahim Mahama: Ghanaians Can Build Major Businesses
Mr Mahama said one of the key motivations behind establishing Dzata Cement was to demonstrate that Ghanaian entrepreneurs can build and operate large-scale industrial businesses rather than depending entirely on foreign-owned companies.
He said Ghanaian businesses have the potential to raise capital, develop industrial facilities, employ thousands of people and compete in strategically important sectors of the economy.
His experience with Dzata Cement, he noted, has reinforced his belief that local entrepreneurs can successfully conceive, finance, build and manage major industrial projects.
Dzata Cement Marks Five Years in Ghana
Dzata Cement has completed five years of operations, marking a significant milestone for Ghana’s local manufacturing and construction industry.
Located on a 10-acre site near the Tema Port, the cement manufacturing facility represents an investment of more than US$100 million.
The plant uses technology supplied by German equipment manufacturer Haver & Boecker to produce Portland cement. Its bagging lines are capable of handling an average of about 120 bags per minute.
Dzata Cement currently has production capacity of approximately 80,000 bags per day, equivalent to about two million tonnes of cement annually, according to the company.
The company is also expected to produce its 30 millionth bag of cement, marking another major production milestone after five years in operation.
From Cement Transporter to Industrial Entrepreneur
Mr Mahama traced the origins of Dzata Cement to his earlier experience as a cement transporter and mining contractor.
His work in cement transportation gave him the opportunity to closely observe the industry’s manufacturing, distribution and supply-chain operations.
He recalled following his trucks to the Ghacem facility in Takoradi, where he examined the plant and learned more about how cement was manufactured.
Rather than viewing large-scale cement production as an industry reserved for foreign investors, the experience convinced him that a Ghanaian entrepreneur could establish a similar facility.
That conviction eventually led him to travel to Germany, engage equipment manufacturers and begin arranging the financing required to build the plant.
Dzata Cement Overcame Major Business Challenges
The construction and installation of the Dzata Cement facility were accompanied by significant financial and operational challenges.
Mr Mahama said support from his younger brother and other individuals helped the company complete the installation of the equipment at a critical stage of the project.
The company also faced difficulties securing funds to clear imported clinker during its early operations.
However, distributors rallied behind the business and helped it overcome the challenge, allowing Dzata Cement to establish itself in the Ghanaian cement market.
Mr Mahama also acknowledged the support of former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, particularly during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ibrahim Mahama Advocates Business Succession
Beyond business expansion, Mr Mahama stressed the importance of succession planning and youth leadership.
He urged current business leaders to give younger people opportunities to take responsibility, make decisions and gain practical management experience.
Mr Mahama disclosed that he had deliberately stepped away from the day-to-day management of Dzata Cement to allow younger leaders to develop their managerial skills.
His succession philosophy involves gradually bringing the next generation into the business, training them and eventually allowing them to take over management responsibilities.
The approach is already evident at Dzata Cement, where his daughter, Nafisa Mahama, serves as Managing Director.
Nafisa Mahama Thanks Customers and Employees
Nafisa Mahama said the fifth anniversary provided an opportunity for the company to express appreciation to its customers, distributors and employees.
She said customers who continued to purchase Dzata Cement products had played an important role in helping the company establish its position in Ghana’s competitive cement and construction market.
She also praised distributors who supported the company during difficult periods and helped expand its market presence.
Employees, she said, remained the heart of the organisation, with management committed to improving employee welfare, skills development and human capital.
Nafisa Mahama also acknowledged the contributions of local and international suppliers, GCB Bank, government institutions and the Chamber of Cement Producers.
She pledged that management would continue investing in its workforce while maintaining product quality and improving services to customers and distributors.
Dzata Cement Plans Major Expansion
Dzata Cement has outlined several plans aimed at increasing production capacity, expanding its product range and strengthening its position in Ghana’s cement industry.
Plant Director Abderrahim Ouahab said the company plans to introduce additional cement grades and explore the possibility of offering 25kg cement bags alongside its existing 50kg packaging.
The company also intends to strengthen its laboratory operations, increase Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) training and pursue international standards including:
- ISO 9001 for quality management
- ISO 14001 for environmental management
- ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety
Other plans include improved spare-parts and inventory management, as well as the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in selected operations.
New 300-Tonne-Per-Hour Facility Planned
One of Dzata Cement’s major capital projects is the planned installation of a 300-tonne-per-hour Multi Big Bag Receiver.
The equipment is expected to improve jumbo-bag handling, cement transfer, screening, dust collection and recycling processes.
The company also plans to expand its storage capacity to 40,000 tonnes and develop an automated packing facility capable of handling approximately 6,000 tonnes of cement per day.
Management’s long-term objective is to increase annual production to at least three million tonnes.
Dzata Cement Targets Top Position by 2030
Finance Director Godfred Barnes said the company’s progress had been driven by hard work, resilience and disciplined financial management.
He said Dzata Cement had navigated several challenges, including supply-chain disruptions, high freight costs, inflation, exchange-rate volatility and operational pressures.
According to Mr Barnes, financial management at the company goes beyond monitoring revenue and expenditure, with every department expected to contribute to efficiency and long-term financial sustainability.
He reaffirmed the company’s ambition to become Ghana’s number-one cement manufacturing company by 2030.
The company believes its first five years established the foundation for growth, while the next five years will focus on disciplined investment, stronger distribution networks, reliable production, customer service and tighter cost management.
Dzata Cement Eyes Diversification
Beyond cement manufacturing, Dzata Cement intends to eventually expand into ready-mixed concrete and other cement-related products and services.
The company’s expansion plans form part of a broader strategy to increase local manufacturing capacity, strengthen Ghana’s construction supply chain and demonstrate the potential of indigenous Ghanaian businesses.
For Ibrahim Mahama, the five-year journey of Dzata Cement represents more than the success of one manufacturing company. It is also an example of how Ghanaian entrepreneurship, local investment and industrial development can contribute to economic growth and create businesses capable of serving future generations.
Source: newsthemegh.com