Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, has called on Ghanaian cement producers to employ more locally sourced raw materials in order to lessen their dependency on imported clinker and encourage sustainable cement production.
The minister stated that innovation is essential to Ghana’s cement industry’s future while speaking at INTERCEM Africa 2026 in Accra. He emphasised the necessity to create affordable production systems that maximise the nation’s natural resources.
She emphasised developments in Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), pointing to the initiatives of Ghacem and CBI Ghana as instances of how the sector may cut clinker usage without sacrificing production effectiveness.
The minister stated that the need for cement would continue to rise due to Ghana’s industrialisation drive, necessitating the adoption of environmentally friendly production practices and the intensification of import substitution initiatives.
In collaboration with the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG), INTERCEM Africa 2026 brought together representatives from over 100 firms and over 40 nations to talk about the future of cement production.
According to Frederic Albrecht, Chairman of COCMAG and CEO of CBI Ghana, Ghana’s lack of sufficient limestone reserves for clinker manufacturing means that the nation is still largely dependent on imported clinker.
He states that the cost of clinker imports has grown due to rising fuel prices, port congestion, and disruptions in the global supply chain, making the usage of alternative local materials crucial for the industry’s sustainability and competitiveness.
According to him, goods made with less clinker show how Ghana may use its own resources to cut production costs and boost productivity.
Bishop Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, CEO of COCMAG, stated that the conference’s goal was to advance a sustainable cement sector that can sustain economic growth by using eco-friendly production techniques.
He pointed out that Ghana is progressively lowering its reliance on clinker by using clay and other regional resources, characterising the change as a significant step toward more economical and sustainable cement manufacture.
LC3 technology, global cement market trends, net-zero transition methods, West African shipping and port issues, and advancements in the world’s clinker supply were all discussed at the conference.
Source: newsthemegh.com