Stop issuing unreasonable threats to cement manufacturers; deal with actual issues – Franklin Cudjoe to Trade Minister

Founder of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has called out the Minister of Trade and Industry over his handling of the impasse with Cement Manufacturers in the country.

In a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) being proposed by the Trade Minister to discourage unjustified increment in cement prices, manufacturers of cement products could be liable to up to three years in jail if they flout certain provisions.

According to KT Hammond, the L.I. is necessary to prevent a cartel of cement manufacturers from exploiting the public.

He has warned that any manufacturer who increases the prices of products anyhow will be dealt with.

Sharing his view on the matter, Franklin Cudjoe describes what he termed as threats from the Trades Minister as unreasonable.

He said the Minister must find the cause of the general increase in prices of goods and deal with it.

“It isn't cement prices alone. Essential meds, supplements too. Daniel Sekpey, my senior in KNUST ( Land Eco), called me a week ago to stockpile because prices were heading north from today!

Please tell the Trade Minister that instead of setting up aimless committees and issuing unreasonable threats to cement manufacturers to forcibly lower prices or fix a control one, he should find out the causes of the general increase in prices. He'd learn, l'm sure that forex exchange rate losses, hiking interest rates, innumerable killer taxes, and electricity tariffs are the first order culprits,” Franklin Cudjoe said in a post on Facebook.

He said KT Hammond must converse with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia about the issue and demand, clear, unambiguous, truthful, and actionable ways to deal with it.