Parliament has passed the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) that seeks to regulate cement prices, despite the opposition from the Minority and a section of the public.
Meanwhile, the provision which required cement manufacturers to seek approval from government before setting cement prices as contained in the L.I initially has been scrapped.
The L.I. which was sponsored by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir (K.T.) Hammond, faced several resistance, especially from the cement manufacturers who urged the Minority in Parliament not to approve the draft L.I.
Bernard Ahiafor, the Minority Spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, had indicated that the regulation contradicts the parent act, which covers standards for all goods and services.
“The parent act by its objects deals with all goods and services, that is setting the standard for all goods and services including the cement, and the understanding of the standard is controlling the quality of all goods and services produced and imported in the country.”
Meanwhile, the L.I. has sailed through the House despite the objections it faced, having undergone 21 parliamentary sittings.
K.T. Hammond has assured the public that the passage of the L.I. will help reduce the price of cement.
“I have consistently been arguing that we are not being treated fairly by the cement producing companies. I have gone through a lot of literature, I am beyond argument. There is a certain amount of unfairness in the pricing of cement across the country and I am prepared to make sure that there is some sanity,” he said.
KT Hammond ‘sacks’ Cement Manufacturers’ reps from meeting with Construction Chamber
