The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has shut down Kumasi Cement Ghana Limited in the Ashanti Region for allegedly using inferior materials in its cement production. 

According to the Ashanti Regional Director of GSA, Samuel Kofi Frimpong, the cement company was amongst the few manufacturers his outfit had recently instructed to halt operations until granted permission.

Speaking to JoyNews, he explained that the company had failed to obey the directive, which has forced the GSA to collaborate with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest two directors of the organisation on Tuesday.

“Testing the raw material, we went to all the cement-producing companies in Ghana. We did everything. The test results show that they are not using the right raw materials, especially the limestone for the production …and that prompted us to call them to a meeting to discuss the issue,” he said.

“You know we are under Trade and Industry so we also have to ensure that we improve the growth of trade in this country. We called them, but they declined, we followed up with a visit to their factory. When we met them, we had to inform them that they had to take steps to address the no-conformities that they have raised because it will affect the cement production in the country.”

Mr Frimpong clarified that the move was amongst one of the many measures the GSA had adopted to ensure that only high quality products are produced for the market.

The Director stressed that his outfit will not relent in its efforts to ensure that all manufacturers perform due diligence.

“The Ghana Standards Authority intends to continue the exercise across the country to ensure producers comply with the laid down requirement in the production of cement

“In 2018, we started a national exercise not just Ashanti region. What we call cement surveillance. this is a national exercise so we are going to continue. It is something we want to do because posterity will judge GSA if we leave this exercise because we have started," he added.