The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GhCCI) is calling on the government to prioritise the use of local materials, particularly in cement production, as a solution to the ongoing cement shortage.
This call follows widespread reports of severe cement shortages across the country, stemming from the unavailability of key raw materials for production.
The shortage has largely been attributed to the limited supply of clinker, a crucial component in cement manufacturing, sparking frustrations among cement dealers.
According to the chamber, this can only be resolved if the government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and its relevant agencies, collaborate to find lasting solutions.
Speaking to GhanaWeb Business, the CEO of GhCCI, Emmanuel Cherry, said that promoting homegrown solutions is the key to boosting local cement production and addressing the crisis.
“This is where we are headed, it requires a lot of advocacy and education. So, that is where the government, through Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Standard Authority, Ministry of Roads and Highways, have come to the table for us to see exactly what we can do to look within to domesticate some of our building materials so that we don’t experience such shortfalls in the future,” he said.
He added that the recent decision by US President Donald Trump should serve as a wake-up call for the government to increase its investment in the private sector, to enhance local production.
“America is teaching us a lesson. The policies of America now are not business-friendly to the other parts of the world. That tells you that everybody must start looking within. If you start looking within now, it will help us in the long run, in the future. This is a wake-up call for all of us, the industry players, both the government agencies, the private sector players, the cement manufacturers, and then the Ghana Standard Authority. We must all come to the decision table, decide, and move ahead,” he stressed.
SP/AE
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