Dr. Yamson said “doing business in this country is not easy, and we have to make it easy for businesses to flourish. There is no way we are going to create businesses, create wealth, we are going to create jobs, create widespread prosperity if doing business in this country is not made easy.”

According to him, it is difficult for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to grow big without multinational support, hence the need for government to give them deliberate support to grow, especially the manufacturing sector.

He made the call during a ceremony in Tema to honour the founding father of Ghacem, Dr. Justice A. Addison, as the company celebrates its 50 years.

Ghacem unveiled a statue of Dr. Addison to celebrate the man credited with establishing the leading cement manufacturer in the country.

The Ghacem Board Member also eulogised the late Dr. Addison describing him as a passionate entrepreneur who always gave reasons as to why government should support Ghanaian entrepreneurs.

Dr. Yamson, who was also the special host for the ceremony, urged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to trust their business partners to enable them build big companies like Ghacem stressing that “if Dr. Addison did not trust his partners, Ghacem will not be here.”

Managing Director of Ghacem, Morten Gade, on his part said “history will continue to extol the virtues of Dr. Addison whose achievements are numerous. 30^th of August 2017, was chosen to honour this great son of Ghana, Dr. J. A. Addison, because it is the day Ghacem was born 50 years ago.”

Mr. Gade said Ghacem has chosen to honour Dr. Addison with a statue to serve a lasting memory in the history of the company.

The Managing Director further called on government to strengthen the efforts to improve conditions of local manufacturers for more benefit to the economy, adding that “we need to ensure these new factories are not only established, but the conditions are favourable so they can survive in the long run.”

Speaking in an interview with the media after the ceremony, Francisca Aba Addison, wife of the late Dr. Addison, appreciated Ghacem for honouring her late husband with such a monument.

Mrs. Addison stated that, the family currently has shares in Ghacem following the good works of her late husband.

The ceremony was witnessed by Children of late Dr. Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, Lawyer Philip Addison, other members of the family, as well as the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku II.

The late Dr. Addison is credited with establishing Ghacem after bringing in investors to establish the company, as well as establishing a paper packaging factory to bag the cement and obtaining a licence for lime stone quarry to provide raw materials for Ghacem.

Ghacem has been in existence since 1967, and has had a major impact with the two cement grinding plants in Tema and Takoradi.

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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Support Ghanaian entrepreneurs – Ishmael Yamson to gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The innovation, which is under the Ghacem Cement Academy, is a flagship program of the manufacturing company aimed at reducing unemployment as well as improving the manufacturing of cement blocks in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the program in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Morton Garde, Managing Director of Ghacem, called on government to create an enabling environment for the growth of local manufacturers.

Mr. Garde explained that, the training will create jobs and develop the skills of the beneficiaries.

“Last year, Ghacem contributed about GHC250 million to the Ghanaian economy through taxes and other royalties” he stated.

Mr. Garde further added that, his outfit is committed to providing local cement block manufacturers the technical know-how that will help them improve upon their work.

According to him, the Ghacem Cement Academy will help optimize the use of cement to derive the best from the product.

“If you make good use of the cement in a professional way, you will be able to make things beautiful for yourself,” he said.

Board Chairman of Ghacem, Nana Prah Agyensem VI, pledged his support to the construction of the maternity blocks at the Komfo Anokye Hospital under the initiative of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

Nana Prah VI was of the opinion that, block manufacturing is no longer an unskilled work, hence the need for the training.

“Training leading to skill acquisition is needed in the production of quality blocks. Quality blocks used in the construction of buildings and factories gives assurance and comfort to users.”

According to him, the Ghacem Cement Academy will provide the block manufacturers the skills to enable them reach an improved level.

On his part, Nana Philip Archer, Commercial Director of Ghacem, indicated that, the company will never rest until they are satisfied that Ghanaians are served with the best cement blocks for all construction works.

He noted that this is the foundation upon which the Ghacem Cement Academy was founded.

According to him, the program commences from June 6th 2017, in the Greater Accra Region, and will cover the rest of the regions by end of this year.

“We hope that by the time the year ends, we would have had about 14 training modules across the country. Our technical team has put up a module with other consultants who will take care of the theoretical and practical work of the training. The refreshing part is that, the training will not only equip people on how to use cement to mould blocks, but also to teach them the business aspect of making blocks,” he asserted.

He further advised consumers not to accept that one type of cement product can be used for all forms of construction works. explaining it is for this reason that has Ghacem has three products  namely Ghacem Super Rapid, Ghacem Super Strong, and Ghacem Extra.

Ghacem further launched its mobile application which is aimed at making information accessible to its customers. In future, the application will make customers pay online for services.

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By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GHACEM to train quality block makers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.