The youth in Aflao in the Volta Region, have hit the principal streets of the Ketu South Municipality to protest the influx of Nigeria’s Dangote Cement in the area, which they say is threatening the survival of the local company, Diamond Cement.
The demonstration followed a press conference earlier held by the Aflao Youth Association requesting Dangote Cement, to regularize its activities and employ the youth in the area.
[contextly_sidebar id=”HLy1vOL7pDsZvX01BLroK1Mt0LejNskZ”]According the Spokesperson of the group, Mengistu Agorbia, the importation of the Dangote cement is affecting the market share for Diamond Cement Factory that employs majority of the youth.
He explained that Dangote Cement is being given undue advantage with government allowing it to import finished cement products which sell at cheaper prices into the country.
“Our brothers will soon lose their jobs in Diamond Cement while Dangote Cement employs more Nigerians to meet increased production demands. We want to emphasize the point that, we do not stand against Dangote, we are asking that he builds a factory here in Ghana and produce from Ghana so that our teeming unemployed youth will get jobs. Importing finished cement to Ghana thereby creating unemployment is our worry” he said.
He expressed fears that Diamond Cement might lay off workers as result of the situation.
The disgruntled youth were clad in red attire holding placards with inscriptions “our local industries are dying” , “stop the importation of cheap cement products” and many more in a bid to drum home their demands.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana