Cement retailers in Ghana are grappling with a growing shortage of popular cement brands, with major products like SOL Cement, Empire Cement, and Dzata Cement becoming increasingly difficult to find. The shortage is primarily due to a critical scarcity of clinker, a vital raw material in cement production.
This crisis comes on the heels of a GH¢9 price hike on all cement products, a result of rising port charges. Retailers are struggling to restock, leading to frustrated customers and lost revenue. Augustine Aduful, a seasoned cement retailer, shared his frustration, recounting how he had paid for SOL Cement but was told to wait two weeks for delivery due to the clinker shortage.
Another retailer, Isaac Frimpong, has been without stock of Ghacem cement for weeks, forcing customers to seek alternatives. He and others are calling for government intervention to address the issue, as the clinker shortage is partly driven by overseas supply problems.
Emmanuel Cherry, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, has urged stakeholders to explore local alternatives to clinker. He emphasizes the need for the Ghanaian manufacturing sector to reduce dependence on imports and collaborate with research institutions like CSIR-BRRI to find sustainable solutions.
The ongoing shortage highlights the vulnerability of Ghana’s cement supply chain and the need for long-term solutions to ensure stability in the construction industry.
