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Ghacem, the country�s biggest producer of cement, has mounted a feverish search for local limestone of sufficient quality and quantity to invest in a regional clinker production. Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, the chairman of the Ghacem Cement Foundation and board member of Ghacem, who disclosed this in Kumasi explained that the move would help the company to cut down on the importation of expensive raw materials and also, create wealth for local industries. �Today, local limestone from our quarry in the Eastern region constitutes about 25 per cent of the content of every bag of Ghacem Super Rapid cement and for a developing nation like Ghana, it is imperative to create wealth by adding value to local resources through the development of local industries,� he said, adding it would also create employment avenues, improve technological skills and increase the tax base of the country. Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, who is also a Board Member of Ghacem Limited, made the announcement in his keynote address at a programme to donate bags of cement to some communities from Northern Ghana, namely the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. The Southern sector, which includes the Volta, Eastern, Western, Central and Greater Accra regions, had earlier been awarded their cements at a similar programme held at Takoradi on June 17, 2011. The programme, which aims at supporting communal self-help projects, forms part of Ghacem�s corporate social responsibility to assist deprived communities to improve their health and educational infrastructure and where necessary, build new ones. This cement donation scheme has been in operation for the past eight years. Nana Prah Agyensaim VI said Ghacem remained committed to contributing substantially to the economic development of the country, disclosing: �Ghacem�s financial contributions to the government of Ghana as at the end of 2010 in terms of direct and indirect taxes is about US$ 53 million (equivalent to GH �77 million).� He called on the beneficiary communities and institutions to put the cement to their intended use, insisting the foundation would not hesitate to take drastic action against any party found to �abuse this noble gesture. Such culprits will forever be blacklisted from this gesture from Ghacem if found culpable of abuse,� he said. On his part, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, the Director for Strategy and Corporate Affairs, in his speech read by Benny Fiifi Ashun Strategy & Corporate Affairs Officer, added that similar ceremonies would be earmarked for next year to further strengthen Ghacem�s commitment to build the nation, as �our slogan and tagline suggests.