Former Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Baba Jamal, has criticised the Akufo-Addo government, claiming that the initiative by Trade and Industry Minister. K.T. Hammond to regulate cement prices is a sign of the government's malicious intent towards Ghanaians.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, June 29, Baba Jamal addressed the sharp increase in cement prices, emphasising that the decision to draft a legislative instrument to control these prices must have gone through the cabinet.
He argued that at that stage, the proposal should have been withdrawn. However, due to what he perceives as the government's wickedness, the measure was allowed to proceed.
“You cannot lay any legislative instrument without it going to cabinet and that is why the whole NPP machinery is wicked towards Ghanaians. It can easily create shortages because manufacturers will simply stop producing and so it is important for the government to rather look at the factors causing cement prices to rise."
“What occasioned the price hikes should be looked at and what can possibly be done to cushion cement manufacturers and this is what the government must be thinking about because how do you want someone to produce at a higher cost and sell at a lower price?.”
The Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond has submitted a proposed legislative instrument to Parliament to regulate cement pricing in the country.
However, the former Akwatia MP, Baba Jamal, urged the government to withdraw the L. I to prevent an escalation of the situation.
“I will advise the government to withdraw this LI and this must be taken seriously because what is happening in Kenya is serving as an eye-opener to a lot of countries and we don’t want what happened in Kenya to happen in Ghana, so the L. I must be withdrawn.”
Credit: myjoyonline.com