Trade and Industry Minister Kobina Tahir Hammond dismissed representatives of the Cement Manufacturers Association from a scheduled meeting with the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GCCI) at the Christ the King in Accra last Friday.

This unexpected move has ignited discussions about the evolving dynamics between the Ministry, the Cement Manufacturers Association, and the Chamber of Construction.

Captured in a video from the event, Minister Hammond is seen firmly requesting the cement manufacturers to vacate the room before the meeting could proceed.

"I was invited by the Chamber of Construction. I wasn’t invited by the Association of Cement Manufacturers. I wasn’t invited by them. Can they leave?" he asserted.

Minister Hammond justified his decision by stating that he had already conducted discussions with the cement manufacturers, and therefore, further dialogue at this meeting was unnecessary. He emphasized that his engagement was exclusively with the Chamber of Construction.

Faced with the presence of the cement manufacturers, Hammond offered a stark ultimatum: "Two options, that I leave or they leave," rebuffing attempts by Chamber representatives to validate the manufacturers’ attendance.

Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries, Emmanuel Tettey Martey, responded to the Minister’s ultimatum by requesting the cement manufacturers to exit.

"Respectfully, our manufacturers, our minister has stated clearly that he has already met you and you have articulated your issues to him so he thought that he was meeting only the chamber. So that is where we stand. We don’t want a situation where the minister will leave, then we wouldn’t have achieved the purpose for which the meeting was called,” Martey explained.

Despite additional intervention from Nana Opare Kwafo, Vice Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Construction and Kyidomhene of Aburi, Minister Hammond remained resolute, insisting on the manufacturers' departure.

A source at the meeting confirmed to CitiNewsroom that the cement manufacturers eventually left, allowing the meeting to continue as planned.

This incident follows a previous altercation on July 1, 2024, when the Cement Manufacturers opted out of a meeting with Minister Hammond due to his insistence on having the media present during the discussions.

The Trade Minister's unwavering stance and the subsequent ejection of the manufacturers have sparked widespread debate about the necessity for clear communication and coordination in addressing industry concerns.

Central to these disagreements is the Minister's proposed Legislative Instrument aimed at regulating cement pricing, a measure that has met with significant opposition from the manufacturers.

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