Ghana Aspires to Be a Regional Cement Production Hub – Trade Minister
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has announced Ghana’s ambition to become a leading hub for cement production, sustainable construction materials, and industrial investment in Africa.
Opening the INTERCEM Africa 2026 Conference in Accra on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, she said Africa’s cement market is projected to reach US$11.7 billion by 2029, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and increasing investments in infrastructure and housing.
She noted that Ghana is strategically positioned to benefit from this growth, with 15 major cement producers and an installed production capacity exceeding 10 million metric tonnes annually.
The Minister stressed that while Ghana’s infrastructure and housing agenda will continue to drive strong demand for cement, the industry must address critical challenges relating to clinker supply security.
Describing Ghana’s dependence on imported clinker as a structural vulnerability, she called on producers, traders, financiers, and logistics operators attending the conference to develop practical solutions that would diversify supply sources and strengthen regional production capacity.
On sustainable industrialisation, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare highlighted Ghana’s leadership in the adoption of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) technology, noting that President Mahama inaugurated West Africa’s first LC3 calcined clay facility earlier this year.
She explained that the technology significantly reduces clinker use and carbon emissions while utilising locally available clay resources, making it a viable solution for greener and more cost-effective cement production across Africa.
The Minister also underscored the importance of innovative financing mechanisms to unlock large-scale industrial and infrastructure investments.
According to her, the government is engaging development finance institutions and implementing reforms under the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act, 2026, to create a more attractive environment for investors, while strengthening the competitiveness of local manufacturers through energy, trade, and regulatory reforms.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare urged delegates to move beyond discussions and use the conference to forge concrete partnerships and investment commitments.
Reaffirming the Government’s support for the cement industry, she emphasised that the sector remains central to Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda and called on participants to leave Accra with agreements that will help transform Africa from a raw-material exporter into a value-adding industrial powerhouse.
The Chief Executive Officer of Continental Blue Investment (CBI) Ghana Ltd. and President of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana (COCMAG), Mr Frederic Albrecht, described Ghana’s hosting of INTERCEM Africa 2026 as recognition of the country’s growing importance in Africa’s cement value chain.
He noted that the conference provides an important platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to strengthen collaboration on clinker supply, sustainable cement production, and industrial financing, while creating partnerships that will support infrastructure development and economic transformation across the continent.
The two-day event has attracted more than 100 companies from 37 countries, including cement producers, traders, financiers, logistics providers, researchers, and sustainability experts.
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