STANDING APART

For Houeto, there are two major reasons why Dangote stands above the competition in the Ghanaian market.

“The first is simply about quality,” he says. “What we produce is unmatched, and Dangote is trusted and recognised as such by building professionals all over the country.

“Second is our enormous logistics setup and capabilities. We have a fleet of over 1,200 trucks which are delivering products to customers, a capacity that is simply unrivalled and unheard of. So, not only do we make the best quality cement, we are able to deliver it more efficiently to every corner of Ghana than anybody else on the market.”

Indeed, such has been the success of Dangote Cement Ghana, the Country CEO outlines plans to upgrade and optimise the operation.

“Much of this work involves upgrading our processes and making improvements in productivity,” Houeto continues. “By the time this is completed, we anticipate making productivity gains of up to 30 percent.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has delayed things slightly, but we expect to complete phase one of our plans around November this year, assuming we’re able to start making progress again in September.

“Phase two will begin in the first half of 2021 and involves redesigning the workflow at the plant, creating a clear distinction between the industrial and background support parts of the business. That will enhance both safety and productivity.”

With the Tema upgrades now expected to be completed by around the end of 2021, Dangote is also planning to build a new grinding plant at Takoradi.

Nestled on the coast around 230 kilometres southwest of Accra, it is designed to produce around half a million tonnes per year and will help the company to fulfil increasing demand in the local market.