The Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond, has filed a proposed Legislative Instrument (LI) to Parliament that aims to regulate cement prices. The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) has expressed serious concerns about this LI.
The chamber claims that industry stakeholders were not consulted before to this LI’s introduction in Parliament.
The plan, in the opinion of COCMAG CEO Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah (Bishop), undercuts equity, openness, and participatory decision-making. It also ignores the nuanced problems that are causing cement prices to rise, chief among them being the sharp devaluation of the Ghanaian cedi in relation to the US dollar.
“The unilateral attempt by the Minister to introduce this proposal to Parliament without engaging with us is not only unfair but also detrimental to the spirit of partnership and mutual respect that should guide our collective efforts to stabilize and grow the industry.”
“In light of these concerns, we respectfully petition Parliament to decline the proposed Legislative Instrument and to direct the Minister of Trade and Industry to engage with the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and address the underlying causes of the price escalation. Such a collaborative approach will enable us to develop effective and sustainable solutions that consider the interests of all parties involved.”
“We trust that you will consider our petition so as to ensure that the voices of the primary stakeholders in the cement industry are heard and respected,” The petition was read in parts.
According to Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, his organization is dedicated to working with the government to establish a stable and successful cement sector in Ghana.
