With the current intense competition within the cement industry in Ghana, the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana, the legally registered and recognised body that promotes and protects the interest of its members, says it upholds competition but rather frowns on unfair competition as a result of unfair trade practices.

According to the Chamber, it is mindful of cement quality in a bid to protect the integrity of buildings and infrastructures in the country, and as the mouthpiece of the cement industry and representing same on all matters relating to the industry, it will not, therefore, hesitate to expose any manufacturer/producer who is found the culprit in any form of unfair trade practices.

The Executive Secretary of COCMAG, Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, who issued the statement on behalf of the Chamber, noted that the cement industry is a strategic one in the economy as such its visibility and protection from unfair trade practices will always be championed by the Chamber.

“In view of its sensitivity and strategic nature, the Chamber has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) on addressing critical issues concerning local cement production, and we are in full support of the move by the Minister of Trade and Industry to come out with a regulatory regime to govern the Cement industry in Ghana.

The Chamber has vowed to promote and maintain a positive image and prominence for the cement industry in Ghana, the statement read.

Rev. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah, pledged that in a bid to sanitise and establish fairness in the cement industry in order to create healthy competition among members of the industry, the Chamber will therefore not associate itself with certain trade malpractices such as: Compromising the quality for survival (production of substandard cement), Supply of underweight bagged/bulk cement products, Violation of Environmental Protection matters at the Ports and Factories, disregard of inbound and outbound road safety standards, pollution, axle load, etc., tax evasion in any form (VAT, Withholding Tax, Corporate tax, etc), Unethical marketing/sales activities and compromising the health and safety principles to which the Cement industry should adhere to.

Rev. Dawson-Ahmoah assured members of COCMAG of the Chamber’s continuous support to ensure their adequate growth and capacity building, and as such urged them not to hesitate to contact the Secretariat on any issue impeding their operation.

The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers of Ghana (COCMAG) is currently the umbrella industry association which was set up in 2015 by members of the Cement Manufacturers in Ghana. Current members include Ghacem Cement, Diamond Cement Group, CIMAF Ghana Ltd., Continental Blue Internation (CBI) Co. Ltd and Dzata Cement.

“Other manufacturers who are mostly of Chinese origin are yet to be admitted by the Chamber and it will be in their own interest if they joined especially now that the enforcement of fair trade practices is rigorously going to be enforced and non-complaints will not be spared”, advised Rev. Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah.