Dangote Cement to reduce operational cost of distributors
Africa’s cement giant, Dangote Cement Ghana Limited has embarked on an exercise to distribute one thousand tarpaulins to its cement distributors across the country, Mr Evans Oloquaye Martey, Marketing Manager of the Company has announced.
The move, he said was aimed at reducing the high cost of putting up or renting office space, which was mostly required to trade in cement.
After distributing the first batch of the tarpaulins, the Marketing Manager said it is part of the overall strategy of the company to make its products affordable and accessible in the Ghanaian market.
“We want many Ghanaians, who desire to put up houses and other infrastructure to buy cement at very affordable prices without having to pay indirectly for the operational cost.
“This is why we are introducing this technology that does not really require an office space to set-up,” he said.
He explained that with the tarpaulin technology, distributors only need all platforms on which to put the cement then use the tarpaulins to cover and secure them against theft and rain.
“The tarpaulin concept of trading cement is an age-long practice in Nigeria and other West African countries that does not require any investment in office space.”
Mr Martey said already the cost of office space in the cities are very high and the tarpaulin concept is being introduced to relieve the plight of the distributors.
Frank Kwadwo Ofori of K. Ofori Enterprise one of the first batch beneficiaries at Tema expressed appreciation to Dangote for the initiative.
He said the move would reduce the marketing burdens they face by the day adding: “Dangote Cement understands our needs and we appreciate them for this initiative. They are supporting our business to grow and our customers definitely will benefit at the end”.
On his part, Joseph Attah Anyen of Paa Nii Agency, said: “Apart from the good quality of cement we get from Dangote, they also have innovative ways of helping small businesses to grow.”
Dangote Cement, producers of the 42.5R grade of cement, within the last two months, have imported 1000 trucks into the country that cart cement from the Tema factory to all parts of the country.
“This is one way we get cement to the Ghanaian at very affordable price. We are not just doing business, we are also helping to develop our infrastructure and ensure there is stability in the pricing of cement in the country so that anyone who intends to build can afford to buy cement.”
Source: GNA