Trade Minister Orders Immediate Reversal of Cement Price Hikes_

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has issued a directive for an immediate halt to the recent increases in cement prices. 

He also instructed cement manufacturers to publish retail prices to prevent further arbitrary price hikes.

In a statement, the Ministry directed the Cement Manufacturing Development Committee (CMDC) to enforce the instruction without fail. The Committee, established under the Ghana Standards Authority (Manufacture of Cement) Regulations, 2023 (Ll 2480), is responsible for regulating cement manufacture, promoting uniform prices nationwide, and ensuring the manufacturing, wholesale, and retail of cement and cement components.

The Minister's directive comes after recent cement price increases, which have affected the building materials market. The CMDC, comprising representatives from cement manufacturers, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Institution of Engineers, MoTI, and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, is tasked with implementing the Minister's order.