Parliament’s Select Committee on Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions has announced plans to take decisive action against the growing influx of foreign cement into Ghana.

Local producers say the trend threatens domestic manufacturing and could put thousands of jobs at risk.

The move follows concerns raised by officials of GHACEM, who allege that substandard cement products are being imported through unauthorised channels, creating unfair competition and undermining local production.

Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Appiah Boateng, speaking during a visit to some agencies, said the Committee will engage the Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop concrete measures to address the issue and strengthen the local cement market.

“That’s something we should take up with the Minister of Trade for action because some importers are using backdoor channels to bring cement into the country. These products are often substandard, and some even evade taxes because they import from different countries,” Mr. Boateng said.

“I think the government must step in to support local manufacturers so they can grow stronger.”

He added that the Committee will brief Parliament on the challenges faced by GHACEM and other local producers, especially the high cost of raw material imports, currency fluctuations, and unfair competition.

“When we visited GHACEM, they mentioned how importation challenges are seriously affecting their operations, particularly when the dollar rises, since it impacts every importer,” he explained.

“We assured them that we will present their concerns to Parliament and include them in our report to explore how best the government can support GHACEM and the wider industry.”