Ghacem has debunked claims by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) that it had put underweight cement on the market. Briefing Journalists in Accra, Bjarne Schmidt, Managing Director of the Company, said considering the nature of equipment used at the Ghacem works, it is virtually impossible for the company or anyone to put out underweight bags on the market. Ghacem reportedly recently increased its prices by 31.2 per cent.
Mr Schmidt said similar procedures were followed at both of the Company’s plants in Tema and Takoradi, saying that Ghacem ensures at all times that it delivered cement bags with weights within the permissible range of 49.5 kg and 50.5 kg to its customers. He explained that every shift undertook control weighing at regular intervals of all the packers and the corresponding spouts, "as a result, all are recorded on a standard sheet for analysis and if any variance is observed, the packing machine is immediately adjusted, either mechanically or electronically." He said if the average load on a truck is not within the approved range of 49.5 kg - 50.5kg, the computer system would not be able to generate a waybill, "and without the waybill, no truck is allowed to leave the premises."
