Displaying items by tag: Sol Cement

Ghana: Wan Heng Ghana has issued a statement clarifying its position after the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) found that it had failed to pay US$60.6m in taxes. The company markets cement from its Tema grinding plant as Sol Cement.

The producer said “We acknowledge that we are indebted to the GRA for unpaid taxes. We are fully committed to resolving this matter in a responsible and timely manner. We want to reassure our valued customers, stakeholders and the public that we are taking immediate and proactive steps to address this issue. We are in discussions with relevant tax authorities to develop a structured repayment plan that aligns with our financial capabilities and ensures that our tax obligations are met.”

It continued “Sol Cement remains dedicated to its mission of contributing to the growth and development of Ghana. We understand that paying our taxes is an essential part of fulfilling this commitment. We apologise for any concerns or inconveniences this situation may have caused, and we promise to keep all our stakeholders informed throughout this process. We appreciate the trust and support that our customers and partners have placed in us over the years, and we are determined to rectify this situation while continuing to provide top-quality cement products and services. We thank you for your understanding and patience during this challenging period. Sol Cement remains committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and a reliable contributor to the Ghanaian economy.

Ghana: The Ministry of Trade and Industry has responded to calls by the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) that it stop imports of cement by saying that the CMA has misrepresented the role of the Cement Monitoring Committee (CMC) and the process of the licensing regime. The CMA took exception to the issuance of permits by the ministry to three foreign cement producers given that they say the country has a surplus of cement, according to the Ghanaian Chronicle newspaper.

In a statement the Ministry of Trade said no authority or mandate has been given to the CMC to instruct or direct the Minister on which firms should be awarded a license and what that company's specific annual imports should be. It added that the CMC's role is intended to give the ministry and all stakeholders access to relevant information and data for the effective implementation of the relevant legislation. It said that the law does not place a ban on imported cement but rather provides a mechanism, rules and procedures for controlling imports.

It went on to explain that the major reason for granting China’s Fujian Cement a licence to import cement into Ghana was because it was building a cement plant in the country and that the company was attempting to establish itself in the market ahead of local production. Fujian Cement originally asked the ministry to import 1.5Mt/yr of cement into the country but this was restricted to 0.5Mt/yr. The ministry also reinforced that it had not granted any import licenses to Dangote Cement and Sol Cement, the companies accused by the CMA of importing cement.

Ghana: Three people have been arrested for allegedly re-bagging cached foreign cement in Ghacem branded bags and selling them to the public.

Samuel Azu, Francis Cato and Philp Quarcoo were apprehended by the Tema Community 2 District Police in Community 11, Tema, Ghana. They are said to be head porters of Sol Cement, which is imported from China. The three suspects would be charged with the offense of forging trademark contrary to section 161, Act 2960. Five of their accomplices are currently on run. It is believed that the suspects also go to construction sites where they pick empty Ghacem branded bags and fill them with the inferior cement for sale to retail shops at cheaper prices.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, Tema Regional Police spokeswoman, who briefed local media, said that the suspects were in the process of re-bagging the inferior cement when the police swooped on them upon a tip-off. She said that the arrest was effected on 7 Wednesday 2015 at about 6pm. According to her, the suspects also buy empty Ghacem bags from unknown sources believed to be working in the company. Obeng noted that the suspects, who admitted the offence, said that they had received the cement as gift from Sol Cement Company and decided to re-bag it.

Goerge Dawson-Ahmoah, Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, told local media that the incident could tarnish the image of Ghacem and that they would collaborate with police to punish the offenders to serve as deterrent to others. He advised buyers to always check the seals anytime they purchase Ghacem products, adding that bags that have glues are likely to have been re-bagged. Dawson-Ahmoah urged retailers to desist from buying products at cheaper prices with the intention of selling them to the public in order to make more profit.