By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (MP), has inaugurated the Fourth Portland Cement Monitoring Committee (PCMC IV) with a charge to members to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s cement industry and ensure strict compliance with regulatory standards.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Ministry in Accra, brought together officials from government, industry, and stakeholder institutions.
In her keynote address, the Minister underscored the importance of the committee, established under the Export and Import (Restrictions on the Importation of Portland Cement) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2240), in guaranteeing the durability, safety, and quality of cement products.
“The cement industry is a critical ingredient of our infrastructural development. From roads and schools to hospitals and housing, cement is literally the foundation of our national progress,” Madam Ofosu-Adjare stated.
She warned that the influx of substandard imported cement posed a significant threat to public safety and to the competitiveness of local manufacturers.
She therefore urged the Committee, chaired by the Ministry’s Chief Director, Mr. Noah Tumfo, to enforce regulations diligently, intensify monitoring, and provide recommendations that would secure the sector’s growth while protecting the interests of Ghanaians.
“The Committee’s work goes beyond administrative functions and directly impacts the integrity of the construction sector and the safety of citizens,” the Minister added, assuring members of the Ministry’s full support in carrying out their mandate.
Mr. Tumfo expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged that the Committee would “work diligently to safeguard the cement sector.”
He noted that a top priority would be curbing cement smuggling and unlicensed operations, which undermine industry standards and threaten fair competition.
“We will do everything possible to prevent the collapse of this vital industry, which is central to Ghana’s socio-economic development,” he affirmed.
The PCMC IV draws representation from government agencies, trade bodies, and industry players, reflecting a broad-based approach to regulation and monitoring. Members include:
1. Mr. Noah Tumfo – Chief Director, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (Chairman)
2. Ms. Suweibatu Adams – Chief Director, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI)
3. Mr. Benjamin Yeboah – Director (National Welfare), Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA)
4. Ing. Clifford Frimpong – Deputy Director General, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)
5. Rev. Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah – Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana
6. Mr. Emmanuel Gilbert Ohene – Deputy Commissioner (Operations), GRA Customs Division
7. Ing. Stephen Debrah Ablormeti – 1st Vice President, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA)
8. Mr. Frank Huber – Managing Director, GHACEM (Association of Ghana Industries Representative)
9. Ing. Stephen Ampiaw – General Manager (Fishing Harbour), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)
The inauguration of PCMC IV marks the fourth time such a body has been constituted to regulate and safeguard the cement industry—an industry described as vital to Ghana’s infrastructural and socio-economic growth.
