Ghacem says high prices of clinker on the world market and freight cost has forced the company to increase its prices. The price of cement has seen frequent increases since July last year, while there was no price increase in the previous 12 months. The recent price increases could affect the cost of housing in Ghana and already the distributors of cement are complaining about the price increases. The Head of Corporate Affairs at Ghacem Dr Dawson Amoah told Joy Business Report that prices of clinker had gone up by over 34 percent which was below the 14 percent increase in the price of cement locally over the same period. Dr Amoah also said though the company had started using locally mined limestone, the increasing price of clinker, which was imported, remained a major challenge. He explained further that high freight charges due to competition from China for vessels add up to the cost.