Manufacturers of cement products face the possibility of up to three years’ imprisonment for violating specific provisions outlined in the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) spearheaded by Trade Minister K.T. Hammond.
The stringent penalty is outlined in the draft document that the Trade Minister intends to introduce to Parliament, as reported by JoyNews.
Trade Minister K.T. Hammond defends his decision to present the instrument to Parliament, underscoring that extensive consultations with stakeholders have informed its formulation.
Executive Secretary of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana (CMAG), Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, criticized the Minister’s strategy to lower prices, likening it to a case of misplaced priorities.
He pointed out that manufacturers were not consulted prior to the proposal, leaving them unaware of the specifics outlined in the draft document.
“We don’t know anything about it. And with my common knowledge in legislative instruments, don’t you involve stakeholders before it gets to Parliament? Don’t you involve stakeholders in the process?” he quizzed on Tuesday.
However, addressing journalists today, K.T. Hammond emphasized that cement prices have been steadily rising, necessitating action.
He stressed that the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is essential to prevent a cartel of cement manufacturers from exploiting the public.
“At a point in time, we are not producing so much cement in the country. Now we have an installed capacity of over 11 million tons in the country. Our demand is nothing like 11 million, so it must be a very profitable enterprise.
“But I think it behoves those in responsible positions in authority to ensure that the good people of Ghana are not fleeced. I am not comfortable, I don’t believe that we’re getting good prizes for all that it’s worth,” he said.
The Trade Minister asserted that there are fundamental issues with cement pricing in the country, highlighting its essential role in every sector of the economy.
“Now I take the view that it’s about time that the country was better served by those who are selling this product to us.
“You have a kind of arbitrariness in the pricing of cement. It’s been so haphazard, I strongly believe that there must be some sanity in the system,” K.T. Hammond said.