The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has stepped up efforts to protect consumers and uphold product standards in Ghana’s construction sector, announcing a nationwide crackdown on substandard cement production.

Appearing before Parliament on Tuesday, 8th July 2025, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, disclosed that over 300 new Trading Standards Inspectors have been deployed to strengthen field enforcement and safeguard public safety.

The move forms part of a broader consumer protection and industrial quality assurance strategy spearheaded by the Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

“In April 2025 alone, 82 cement samples were collected from factories and markets across the country for laboratory testing,” Madam. Ofosu-Adjare said.

“Further surveillance between 6th and 15th May employed advanced techniques such as x-ray fluorescence to verify chemical composition and ensure compliance with safety standards.”

She warned that any company found producing or distributing substandard cement will face immediate shutdown and sanctions in accordance with national standards enforcement regulations.

The intensified quality control efforts come amid growing public concern over the proliferation of low-grade building materials, which industry experts say pose significant risks to infrastructure integrity and public safety.

The Minister emphasized that the government remains committed to raising quality benchmarks across the manufacturing and industrial landscape.

“This is not just about cement. It’s about building confidence in our domestic products and ensuring consumers get value and safety in what they purchase,” she noted.

The crackdown on substandard cement is part of a broader reform agenda announced by the Ministry, which includes the implementation of a National Agribusiness Policy, targeted support for agro-processing factories under the Feed the Industry and ENABLE Youth programmes, and the establishment of Special Economic Zones to boost private sector competitiveness.

Addressing Parliament, Madam Ofosu-Adjare also highlighted the government’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to develop incentive packages for industries under a revitalized One District One Factory framework.

As Ghana pursues industrial transformation and export-led growth, the enforcement of product quality standards is expected to play a critical role in ensuring competitiveness, consumer protection, and investor confidence.