Ibrahim Mahama recounts how ‘Ghanaians can’t build cement plant’ claim inspired Dzata Cement

The Chief Executive Officer of Dzata Cement Limited, Ibrahim Mahama, has recounted how a comment by a former Ghacem boss that no Ghanaian could build a cement plant inspired him to establish Dzata Cement.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary celebration of Dzata Cement, Mr Mahama said the comment strengthened his determination to prove that Ghanaians could establish and own large-scale businesses.

“I said, Morten, you’re lying. I pray you live and see this plant being built,” Mr Mahama recounted.

According to him, his experience as a cement transporter and mining contractor had already exposed him to the cement manufacturing business and convinced him that building a plant was achievable.

He said while following his trucks to Ghacem in Takoradi, he took the opportunity to observe how cement was produced.

“I looked at the structure and said, look, I could build one,” he recalled.

Mr Mahama subsequently travelled to Germany, engaged equipment manufacturers and secured financing from banks to develop the plant.

He said the project faced significant financial and operational challenges during construction before his younger brother and others provided support to help complete the installation of the equipment.

He also acknowledged the support of distributors who stood by Dzata Cement during its early stages, including when the company struggled to raise funds to clear imported cement.

“They all joined hands together, the cement came, we allocated it to them, and then Dzata Cement started,” he said.

“There are other ventures that I want to prove to Ghanaians that we can’t always be beggars and we can’t only just be employees to foreign companies. We can build it ourselves,” he said.

He also credited former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen for supporting the project during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“Alan, wherever you are, I’m giving you a thumbs up. Thank you very much for standing behind us,” Mr Mahama said.

“In life, some of us should learn these lessons. We won’t live forever. So sometimes we should give the children the opportunity to be able to take that risk of managing,” he said.

Mr Mahama said his business philosophy is to build companies with the next generation in mind by gradually transferring management responsibilities to younger people.

“What we do is that we start running together and then as our children grow, we employ them in the business, we teach them, and then we go into retirement,” he said.