C'ttee to control cement importation inaugurated
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has inaugurated a committee to monitor and control the importation of Portland cement into the country.
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It follows thematuration of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2240, the Export and Import (Restrictions on Importation of Portland cement) Regulation, 2016.
The LI seeks to limit the bagging and importation of cement into Ghana, as well as protect the local industry.
The 11-member committee, chaired by the Chief Director of the Trade Ministry, Mr Dawarnoba Baeka, is to ensure the strict enforcement of the regulation.
Members of the committee include representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Standards Authority, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Others are the Ghana Union of Traders Association, the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana, the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association and the Association of Ghana Industries.
Work of committee
The committee will monitor and enforce provisions of the regulations, advise the minister on matters in relation to the importation of Portland cement and related matters.
The members are also to make recommendations to the minister on the pricing and quantities of Portland cement to be imported for commercial purposes and the local production of Portland cement.
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Why restrictions
At the inauguration ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said the LI on restrictions on the importation of Portland cement followed concerns that imported cement was threatening local cement manufacturing companies.
Although there were a few cement manufacturing companies in Ghana, he said, the importation of the same product was a concern.
He said regulation of the sector was to encourage more cement manufacturers into the country, instead of boosting importation, as well as protect the local cement industry.
In a public notice published in the Daily Graphic on Friday,August 12, 2016, the Ministry of Trade said in response to the influx of imported cement, it asked for the mandate to restrict the importation of Portland cement, which was approved by the Cabinet on May 26, 2016.
It then proceeded and laid the drafted LI before Parliament in July 29, 2019,which matured on August 1, 2016.
Under the LI, the ministry will introduce an import licensing system for the importation of Portland cement for commercial purposes and regulate the international trade in cement.
Because Ghana is a signatory to ECOWAS trade agreements, the regulation will exempt importation from ECOWAS-member countries.
Mr Spio-Garbrah tasked the committee to obtain information on the local manufacturing companies to verify their capacities and how they were feeding the market.
Mr Baeka, on behalf of members, pledged the committee’s commitment to work diligently to attain the objectives.