Trade Minister K.T. Hammond has criticized CEO of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, for submitting a petition to Parliament urging the rejection of a proposed legislative instrument aimed at regulating cement pricing.
The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana, voiced serious apprehension about the proposed L.I, contending that it undermines fairness, transparency, and inclusive decision-making while neglecting the intricate factors behind rising cement prices.
Speaking to journalists, K.T. Hammond affirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding Ghanaian consumers from unfair practices in the cement market.
“I think there’s something fundamentally wrong with the pricing of our cement in the country. It was about the same issue that we tackled when we were at the Ministry of Energy. I believe that there has to be some sanity in the system… And so today, I have received a copy of a petition written by the Association of Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, whatever.
“Pretty insulting, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, he’s been a person I have known for many years when he was at GHACEM. We have been very good friends.
“When we started all this cement manufacturing, whatever, he was part of it. He has been in consultation with us. He has been on board with respect to all that we have undertaken. Now he arrives in parliament and tells parliament to order me to take back my documents and to consult with him because what I have done is not right or respectful or something because I hadn’t told him. You know, sometimes you have to be careful when some of these things come about.
“But he has a PhD, he’s a doctor, so reading and comprehension shouldn’t be a problem for him. He should go and read the constitution and he will see that by Article 11 thereof, Parliament doesn’t tell me to go and consult with him. I mean, the procedures that he’s talking about, if he understands, I don’t know,” the minister told the media.