The Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed his disappointment in the Minority over how they have reacted to the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) intended to regulate cement pricing.
He said he does not understand why the NDC is bent on delaying the processes leading to the proposed L.I. becoming law.
He also refuted claims that the L.I. is meant to regulate cement pricing, adding that the main objective of the L.I. is to promote competition.
“When the matter came up for the laying of the L.I, our colleague raised a strong objection to the fact that we must subject the L.I to a pre-laying which suggestion we agreed.
“Now the pre-laying was done and a referral was made to the Subsidiary Legislative Committee of Parliament headed by Dr Dominic Ayine.
“After their deliberation, they came out with a report signed by the Chair of the committee. The content is to the effect that if the Trade Minister would take into consideration all the amendment, then, they are not opposed to it. True to his word, K.T Hammond incorporated every single amendment proposed by the committee into the new L.I before same was laid.
“In other words, the L.I previously brought to Parliament was changed so every amendment proposed by the Minority was factored. So the question is how come the next day, some members of the same Minority are coming to attack government,” he quizzed.
“Government is not seeking to reintroduce price control as if we are a communist government.
“This government believes in free market enterprise but free market enterprise must also be regulated and checked,” he said.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 advised Trade and Industry Minister, K.T Hammond to withdraw the L.I.
This was after NDC MPs former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu raised new issues with the L.I.
Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), says we do not live in a pricing regime that allows anyone to force traders or company owners to sell their items at a regulated price.
Dr. Obeng responded to the Trade and Industry Minister’s plan to regulate cement pricing, claiming that we are in a liberal market and that the government cannot compel business by regulating prices.
He explained that the government has no investment in the businesses operated in the country and hence has no basis to determine the prices of the goods.
He maintained that if the intention of the government is to help deal with cartels who are engaging in monopolistic activities, then it should communicate that with Ghanaians.
“If there is any regulation meant to break a cartel or monopoly by some players in the market who engage in activities in pricing their goods at certain prices, the government should communicate that well to the people. In America, such activities are deemed criminal offences. If you want to break the activities of the cartel to stop the monopolistic activities, then communicate it well. You should also consult widely on the matter.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
