President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a new calcined clay cement plant that marks a step toward reducing Ghana’s reliance on imported clinker while advancing the country’s manufacturing ambitions and environmental goals.
Speaking at the commissioning of the facility operated by CBI Ghana Limited, Mahama said the $110 million investment will help the country retain more value within its domestic economy by substituting locally sourced clay for imported clinker, a key ingredient in cement production.
Clinker imports cost Ghana close to half a billion dollars annually, he said, adding that the new technology could cut the country’s import dependence by more than 10 %. The plant has an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of cement and is designed to produce about 400,000 tonnes of calcined clay, an alternative material that reduces the carbon footprint of cement manufacturing. Traditional clinker-based cement production accounts for about 8 % of global carbon emissions. Calcined clay technology lowers emissions while maintaining structural performance, the president said.
“The innovation allows us to process locally sourced clay in Ghana instead of importing large volumes of clinker,” Mahama said, noting the shift will reduce production costs and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
The plant will operate continuously under Ghana’s proposed 24-hour economy policy, which government says is aimed at boosting productivity and industrial output. The project has created 109 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect roles across logistics, raw material supply and support services, according to the president.
He further noted that the investment aligns with government’s broader plan to raise manufacturing’s share of gross domestic product to 15 % by 2030, a move expected to generate about 500,000 additional jobs. The facility also positions the country to expand exports of cement across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area, as its production process meets rules-of-origin requirements through the use of locally sourced materials.
The government is also seeking to strengthen industrial infrastructure around the plant. Mahama said authorities plan to rehabilitate the industrial zone in Tema through upgrades to roads, drainage systems and waste treatment facilities in partnership with private sector operators.
The president said stable macroeconomic policies and closer engagement with industry have already helped moderate cement prices, which rose sharply in 2024 before falling about 20 % by mid-2025. “With the right policy environment, the private sector will respond and invest in projects of global significance,” Mahama said.
