Kwame Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways, has said the current prices of cement in Ghana do not make sense.
According to the Road Minister, the GH¢120 cedis cement price is unfair to the ordinary Ghanaian.
He noted that every other commodity in terms of price has responded, but cement dealers are refusing to pass gains to buyers.
Speaking to the media before the mid-year budget, Kwame Agbodza stated, “In my view, GH¢95 makes sense instead of the so-called GH¢120 cedis, which I call rent-seeking and so much unfair to the ordinary Ghanaian.
“Whilst every other commodity in terms of price has responded to the gains we have all made together as a country and as a people by reducing prices, cement dealers are refusing to pass on the gains to buyers,” he said.
He added, “We will be more aligned to producers who are ready to pass on the gains made in the economy in terms of currency stability to consumers”.
Kwame Agbodza noted that the price of cement is directly linked to the cost of government projects, and invariably, it is the Ghanaian taxpayer who will pay for those projects.
He added that it is unacceptable that Ghanaians can all make sacrifices as a country, yet cement dealers refuse to pass on gains to the people.
The road minister added, “We are about to unveil a massive road infrastructure programme which will consume a lot of cement,” he said. “We shall be ready to determine that cement used for government projects should be sourced from sources that are cheaper on the market. It’s as simple as that.”
“The price of cement is directly linked to the cost of government projects and indirectly, it is the Ghanaian taxpayer who will pay for those projects,” he added.
Kwame Agbodza warned, “Cement producers who are refusing to pass on the gains made in the economy in terms of stability of the currency to consumers will not be favoured. This rent-seeking must stop.”
“I’m not trying to control prices, but I believe that everybody, including yourselves, knows that even trotro drivers and fuel traders have reduced their prices. What justification do we have for cement dealers not to do the same?” he asked.
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