Government inaugurates committee to curb cement smuggling and protect industry

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has inaugurated the Fourth Portland Cement Monitoring Committee (PCMC IV) with a call on members to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s cement industry and ensure strict compliance with regulatory standards.

Speaking at the ceremony in Accra on Thursday, September 18, 2025, the Minister said the establishment of PCMC IV under the Export and Import (Restrictions on the Importation of Portland Cement) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2240), reflected government’s renewed commitment to ensuring the durability, safety and quality of cement products on the market.

“The cement industry is a critical ingredient of our infrastructural development. From roads and schools to hospitals and housing, cement is literally the foundation of our national progress,” she stated. She warned that the influx of substandard imported cement posed serious risks to public safety and threatened the competitiveness of local producers, stressing the need for stronger oversight.

She charged the committee, chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Noah Tumfo, to enforce regulations, conduct effective monitoring, collaborate with stakeholders and provide recommendations that would sustain growth in the sector while protecting the interests of Ghanaians. “The committee’s work goes beyond administrative functions and directly impacts the integrity of the construction sector and the safety of citizens,” she noted.

Ofosu-Adjare urged members to uphold their oath of office, secrecy and allegiance with dedication and integrity. “I want to assure you of the Ministry’s support in ensuring the success of your mandate. Together, let us build a stronger, more resilient cement industry that serves the best interests of Ghana,” she added.

Chairman of the Committee, Noah Tumfo, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged that the committee would work diligently to protect the sector. He stressed that preventing cement smuggling and clamping down on unlicensed operators would be a top priority. “We will do everything possible to prevent the collapse of the cement industry, which remains vital to Ghana’s economy,” he said.

The PCMC IV comprises representatives from government, industry and key stakeholder groups, including the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), the Ghana Standards Authority, the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association, GHACEM, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

The inauguration marks the fourth time such a committee has been constituted to regulate and monitor the cement industry, which continues to play a central role in Ghana’s socio-economic development.

Membership of the Committee: 

The newly inaugurated PCMC IV is composed of representatives from government, industry, and stakeholder institutions as follows:

1. Mr. Noah Tumfo – Chief Director, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MOTAI) – Chairman

2. Ms. Suweibatu Adams– Chief Director, Ministrr of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI) – Member

3. Mr. Benjamin Yeboah – Director (National Welfare), Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) – Member

4. Ing. Clifford Frimpong – Deputy Director General, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) – Member

5. Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah – Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana – Member

6. Mr. Emmanuel Gilbert Ohene – Deputy Commissioner (Operations), Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division – Member

7. Ing. Stephen Debrah Ablormeti – 1st Vice President, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) – Member

8. Mr. Frank Huber – Managing Director, GHACEM (Association of Ghana Industries Representative) – Member

9. Ing. Stephen Ampiaw – General Manager (Fishing Harbour), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) – Member