The Dean of the College of Cape Coast Enterprise Faculty, Professor John Gatsi, is questioning the rationale behind establishing a legislative instrument particularly aimed toward regulating cement costs, a single commodity throughout the building business.
In accordance with him, if the federal government genuinely intends to boost the business, it ought to implement rules comprehensively for all commodities, not simply cement.
Talking on JoyFM’s High Story on Thursday, June 27, he requested, “Why solely cement? If it’s the proper factor to do, then we don’t use solely cement for building, you employ different supplies that are additionally very delicate to cost improvement within the nation.”
His feedback follows Trades and Business Minister, KT Hammond’s pledge to ignore a petition from the Chamber of Cement Producers to delay the implementation of a legislative instrument aimed toward regulating cement costs.
KT Hammond insists that the regulation is important to forestall a cartel of producers from exploiting the general public.
Beneath the proposed LI, cement producers may resist three years in jail for violations.
Nevertheless, the Dean of the Enterprise Faculty warned that this method would possibly probably influence the economic system negatively.
“If we aren’t cautious, we are going to get to a degree that objects that are delicate to costs can be drawn underneath worth management and that won’t be the perfect for the economic system,” he mentioned.
Additionally on the identical present, Rating Member of the Commerce, Business and Tourism Committee, Yusif Sulemana, mentioned that the method was momentary and never an answer to checking inflation within the housing sector.
He argued that numerous uncooked supplies are assembled to supply cement, and if the federal government insists on regulating the value, the usual of cement is likely to be compromised.
In the meantime, the Ghana Actual Property Builders Affiliation says the legislative instrument aimed toward regulating cement costs within the nation was a step in the proper route.
The Minority in Parliament has voiced sturdy opposition to the proposed Legislative Instrument.
Minority Spokesperson on Authorized and Constitutional Affairs, Bernard Ahiafor said that the regulation contradicts the mother or father act, which covers requirements for all items and providers.
“The mother or father act by its objects offers with all items and providers, that’s setting the usual for all items and providers together with the cement, and the understanding of the usual is controlling the standard of all items and providers produced and imported within the nation.”
In accordance with the spokesperson, the GSA is answerable for setting high quality requirements, not controlling costs.
He said that promoting is completely different from pricing of products and providers.
“We’re of the view that if the LI is allowed to cross by means of parliament which can set the value of cement, then equally all items and providers produced within the nation should undergo worth management since you can not single out solely cement when the mother or father regulation is coping with all items and providers.”
In accordance with Mr Ahiafor, there are home cures which needs to be used to deal with these considerations as a substitute of resorting to authorized motion.