Ghana has inaugurated a new cement monitoring committee to tighten oversight of the sector, aiming to curb the use of imported substandard cements, enforce regulatory standards, and safeguard the competitiveness of local producers in a market crucial to infrastructure growth.
Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, speaking at the launch of the fourth Portland Cement Monitoring Committee (PCMC IV) in Accra, said the move reflects government’s renewed commitment to ensuring the safety, quality and durability of cement products under the Export and Import (Restrictions on the Importation of Portland Cement) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2240).
“The cement industry is a critical ingredient of our infrastructural development. From roads and schools to hospitals and housing, cement is literally the foundation of our national progress,” Ofosu-Adjare said. She warned that substandard imports risk undermining infrastructure safety and eroding the market share of compliant domestic manufacturers.
The committee, chaired by the Ministry’s Chief Director Noah Tumfo, has been tasked to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, collaborate with industry players, and provide recommendations to sustain the sector’s growth. Tumfo pledged diligence, highlighting the committee’s intent to confront illegal imports and unlicensed operators. “We will do everything possible to prevent the collapse of the cement industry,” he said.
The committee includes representatives from the Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations, Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division.
Cement production and imports remain a cornerstone of Ghana’s construction economy, supporting housing, transport, and industrial projects. Oversight has become increasingly critical amid concerns over the influx of substandard products and the impact on local manufacturers operating under rising costs and competitive pressure.
The committee’s work is expected to play a decisive role in protecting industry margins, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and safeguarding a sector that underpins billions of dollars of infrastructure spending.
The Members Include:
1. Mr. Noah Tumfo – Chief Director, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MOTAI) – Chairman
2. Ms. Suweibatu Adams– Chief Director, Ministrr of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI) – Member
3. Mr. Benjamin Yeboah – Director (National Welfare), Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) – Member
4. Ing. Clifford Frimpong – Deputy Director General, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) – Member
5. Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah – Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana – Member
6. Mr. Emmanuel Gilbert Ohene – Deputy Commissioner (Operations), Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division – Member
7. Ing. Stephen Debrah Ablormeti – 1st Vice President, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) – Member
8. Mr. Frank Huber – Managing Director, GHACEM (Association of Ghana Industries Representative) – Member
9. Ing. Stephen Ampiaw – General Manager (Fishing Harbour), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) – Member
