Cross-border cement from neighbouring countries: Are we overlooking supply chain risks?

By Ebenezer OSEI 

As a regular observer of Ghana’s bustling construction scene, I am fascinated by how new players keep shaking things up in the cement market. Driving through Accra or Kumasi, you can’t miss the stacks of cement bags fueling everything from high-rise apartments to rural clinics.

Among them, a particular Togo-sourced brand is making waves with its ‘budget-friendly’ prices, catching the eye of contractors and small builders alike. But as I’ve dug deeper, I’ve learned this cement isn’t made here, it’s imported from Togo.

This raises a nagging question: In an industry already wrestling with quality scandals and supply chain issues, are we overlooking risks by letting these imports flow in without enough scrutiny?

As someone watching from the outside, I’m worried about what this means for the safety and reliability of our construction boom.

This cement comes from a grinding plant in Togo, which kicked off operations a few years back. With a hefty estimated 2.5 million ton annual capacity, this facility grinds imported clinker into Portland cement.

In Ghana, a distributor based in Tema takes charge of importing these products, either in bulk or pre-bagged 50kg units, via ports or land borders. From there, it is mostly about bagging or rebagging for distribution across regions like Greater Accra, Ashanti, and the Central Region.

This isn’t local production; it’s a lean import model that keeps costs down, letting these offerings beat local giants like GHACEM or Dangote on price sometimes.

That affordability is a lifeline for builders grappling with Ghana’s economic challenges, where cement prices have spiked amid inflation and currency woes. But here’s where I get uneasy: Ghana’s cement industry has been under fire for supply chain and quality problems. The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has been cracking down hard, shutting down factories in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for using substandard materials like quarry dust instead of limestone, which weakens concrete and risks structural failures.

In March 2025, Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare ordered closures of non-compliant producers, and by July, 300 GSA inspectors were testing samples, with 82 checked in April alone. Factories like Xin An Safe and Unicem faced sanctions, and even Dzata Cement flagged fake bags filled with inferior cement.

The supply chain for these imports, starting in Togo, adds another layer of concern. Ghana’s 2016 Export and Import Regulations (L.I. 2240) require import licenses for Portland cement and strict inspections to ensure compliance.

With Togo exporting millions in cement to Ghana annually, these shipments are part of that flow, but there’s little public info on whether proper permits have been secured or if rigorous testing has occurred.

Since the Ghana operation focuses on bagging rather than production, the cement’s quality depends on Togo’s standards and the integrity of the supply chain, think long truck rides or port handling that could affect the product.

Are these bags tested for strength and composition under Ghana’s conditions? The silence from the GSA and Ministry of Trade on these Togo imports is striking, especially when local producers are under such intense scrutiny.

Then there’s the economic angle. Ghana’s a major clinker importer, spending heavily due to limited local production, which makes us vulnerable to global price swings.

This import model might ease supply shortages, but it doesn’t create the jobs or skills a local factory would. With a moratorium on new cement plants since 2020 to manage overcapacity, why are imports like these flowing freely? And with price being a hot issue, the low prices are tempting, but could they mask quality shortcuts?

As an observer, I am all for affordable cement that helps Ghanaians build their dreams. But after hearing about collapsing buildings and fake products, I can’t help but worry about what’s in those bags. If they are legit and up to standard, the authorities should say so loud and clear. If not, we need answers, fast.

The GSA and Ministry owe it to builders, masons, and homeowners to ensure every bag, imported or local, is safe. Until we get that clarity, these cheap imports might be a bargain with risks we can’t afford.

>>>the writer is a communications and marketing specialist with experience in journalism, branding, and strategic storytelling. Skilled in developing integrated marketing campaigns, managing client relationships, and driving digital content strategies. Proven track record in leading high-profile projects across corporate, political, and international events. He can be reached via [email protected]

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