The meeting took place at Christ the King in Accra.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Mr. Hammond said he does not see anything wrong with his actions.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. I called for a meeting with the manufacturers, but they refused to attend” he fumed.

According to him, the only reason the manufacturers gave for not attending was his insistence on having the meeting in the presence of the media.

He clarified, “This particular meeting was meant for interactions with the Chamber of Construction.”

Following Mr. Hammond’s insistence, Emmanuel Tettey Martey, Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, requested that the cement manufacturers exit.

But the Trade Minister said since Monday, he has been meeting with other stakeholders on different issues.

“They are not the only ones I need to meet. I am tired of this situation,” he said.

The Trade Minister also mentioned that, he has laid the document in Parliament, and it will become law in 21 days.

“I don’t need any input from them regarding implementation. Now I am beginning to think that they are hiding things and don’t want us to know. After disrespecting me, they are going around saying things that are not worth it” he fumed.

Mr. Hammond acknowledged the challenges posed by a free market system. “I understand it is a free economy, so everyone does what they want.”

However, he stated that a free economy should not be equated with exploiting consumers.

“My understanding of a free economy is not the freedom to cheat or fleece people. Economic enterprise is about the freedom of trade and achieving profits within reasonable means, not making senseless and unreasonable profits at the expense of the citizenry,” he concluded.

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A video from the event captured Minister Hammond insisting that the cement manufacturers leave the room before the meeting commenced.

“I was invited by the Chamber of Construction. I wasn’t invited by the Association of Cement Manufacturers. I wasn’t invited by them. Can they leave?” the Minister asked.

Minister Hammond explained that he had already engaged in discussions with the cement manufacturers and saw no need for further dialogue at this meeting. He emphasized that the purpose of the meeting was to interact specifically with the Chamber of Construction.

Faced with the presence of the cement manufacturers, Hammond stated firmly, “Two options, that I leave or they leave,” rejecting attempts by Chamber representatives to justify the manufacturers’ attendance.

He added, “Actually if you want it on record, they will not meet with me.”

In response to the Minister’s insistence, Emmanuel Tettey Martey, Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, requested the cement manufacturers to exit.

“Respectfully, our manufacturers, our minister has stated clearly that he has already met you and you have articulated your issues to him so he thought that he was meeting only the chamber. So that is where we stand. We don’t want a situation where the minister will leave, then we wouldn’t have achieved the purpose for which the meeting was called,” Martey appealed.

Despite further intervention from Nana Opare Kwafo, Vice Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Construction and Kyidomhene of Aburi, the Adansi Asokwa MP Hammond stood his ground, insisting on the manufacturers’ exit.

A source present at the meeting confirmed to CitiNewsroom that the cement manufacturers eventually walked out, allowing the meeting to proceed.

This incident follows a previous altercation on July 1, 2024, when the Cement Manufacturers opted out of a meeting with Minister Hammond due to his insistence on having the media present during the discussions.

The Trade Minister’s firm stance and the ensuing ejection of the manufacturers have sparked discussions about the dynamics between the Ministry, the Cement Manufacturers Association, and the Chamber of Construction, highlighting the need for clear communication and coordination in addressing industry concerns.

The disagreements have largely stemmed from the Minister’s attempt to introduce a Legislative Instrument to regulate cement pricing much to the disagreement of the manufacturers.

This is what arrogance of power looks like. Ghana paa nie pic.twitter.com/s3cw2HsFRT

— Abdul Hameed (@sayhameed) July 19, 2024

The meeting was to discuss a proposed Legislative Instrument (LI) to regulate cement prices which has been met with fierce opposition.

The manufacturers reportedly included Dangote, Supacem, Ghacem, Diamond Cement, and CIMAF.

Addressing the press following the boycott, Mr Hammond expressed his determination to lay the L.I in parliament today, July 2.

“This was not supposed to be a press conference. It was supposed to be a meeting with the cement manufacturers. You will recall that in the last few days, I didn’t quite lay a document, but I have given an indication of my intention to lay an LI, which will relate to the pricing of cement in the country.

“I am not sure, but I suspect that in my absence, the majority leader may have sent it out. I haven’t been able to ascertain what exactly happened, but somehow it has gone all over the country that we are trying to lay an LI…I am going to do it; we didn’t do it on this occasion,” he stated.

The Adansi-Asokwa MO insisted that there have been extensive consultations on the proposed L.I, stating no stakeholder was left out.

“The story out there is that the NDC prevented us; that is not true…I just gave a copy to my leader, the majority leader, concerning what I had in mind. But since that time, there have been so many complaints that I hadn’t consulted with the stakeholders before trying to lay the LI as they claim. I have refuted that on the various platforms.

“Consultation with these players has continuously been taking place. On a specific occasion, when I inaugurated a committee that was going to be responsible for this price regulation, I charged the manufacturers and their respective associations to be mindful of pricing cement in the country. We’ve asked them to publish the expatriate prices for us to have an idea into how much they are going to sell a bag of cement,” he explained.

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The Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Alex Dodoo, revealed that in five separate meetings, manufacturers failed to disclose their cost structures and other factors influencing product pricing.

According to Prof. Dodoo, the proposed legislative instrument aims to enforce transparency in the industry.

“The question is, are we being charged too much for cement as it comes to the factory? At the committee meetings, five different meetings. The question to the manufacturers is, can you declare your extraction price or your indicative extraction price? So if a consumer is buying they know how much Ghacem, Supercem are selling it at the factory gates. That provides some transparency,” he told JoyNews.

“I believe that the whole purpose of the legislation is to promote openness and transparency in cement prices. And that has been an issue of concern and a bit of frustration, both to the ministry, myself and all players. So really it’s about transparency on cement pricing, ensuring fair return on investment and ensuring that the Ghanaian consumer receives a fair deal,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Cement Manufacturers Association, Dr Dawson Amoah stated that a dialogue is necessary to discuss how cement prices can be stabilized.

“It is not out of fun that manufacturers get up and increase prices. That I can tell you. I have been in the management of Ghacem before and anytime there is a price increase, honestly, it is really with reluctance.

“They see the effect but they will not have any other option than to do it. I was rather trying to reiterate whatever efforts that the minister wants to do, instead of trying to regulate the price, I would suggest that there should be a dialogue to see how we can stabilize cement prices” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Standards Authority has planned to shut down cement companies producing substandard products to maintain quality.

There are currently 14 licensed cement factories operating in the country.

“The standard authority has done research and we have noticed that some particular players believe the only way to compete is to reduce the quality of cement. We did close three of them. And I can assure you in the coming days, a lot more will be closed down because there’s one thing we will not compromise on, quality.

“When we went to parliament on Thursday with Honourable K.T Hammond, I will say that the legislatures as we do in legislation are still jaw-jawing to find out what the best fit, which will not reduce the image of Ghana as a country that promotes free market.

But what fit will also show all players that as a country, there are regulations for all players,” he said.

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In an interview with Evans Mensah on Joy News’ PM Express, the Minister shared that he had heard rumours about CMAG members mocking his efforts.

“I heard through the grapevine that they were teasing me, saying, ‘The Minister can’t do it. Nobody can resolve this matter of cement pricing,’” he recounted.

In response, Minister Hammond summoned two CMAG members to his office, questioning them, “Why do you think the Minister is powerless to control cement prices?” The members denied making such comments.

However, the Minister continued to receive feedback indicating scepticism about his ability to regulate prices.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by a free market system, stating, “I understand it is a free economy, so everyone does what they want.”

He emphasized that a free economy should not equate to exploiting consumers.

“My understanding of a free economy is not the freedom to cheat or fleece people. Economic enterprise is about the freedom of trade and achieving profits within reasonable means, not making senseless and unreasonable profits at the expense of the citizenry,” he said.

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