The Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association (GCMA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is handling their recent petition on the under-declared value of the cost of freight (C&F) of imported bagged cement.
Speaking to the media, the chairman of the GCMA, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, said cost and freight values (C&F) of $25 per tonne to $30 per tonne were still being charged at the ports on imported bagged cement particularly from China.
He said the association was of the view that any value less than $80 per tonne to cover C&F of imported bagged cement had the tendency to undermine the cost build-up of locally produced cement, making the imported bagged cement far cheaper than locally produced ones.
This, he said made it difficult for the local producers to compete with importers. Customs unresponsive Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah disclosed that despite several meetings held with the Deputy Commissioner, Operations and the Assistant Commissioner, Intelligence of the Customs Division, it did not appear that the Division would implement the $80 per tonne on C&F.
He said two major companies were still importing into the country with CF value less than $40 per tonne.
“Looking at the cost of bagged cement overseas, together with freight, the importers are doing so much damage to the local manufacturers and this is unacceptable. Customs must come out publicly to declare and resolve this canker to prevent local industries from collapse,” he said.
Dr Dawson-Ahmoah reiterated that the continuous importation of bagged cement was not necessary, stressing that with a current surplus capacity of over two million tonnes per annum, local manufacturing companies had the installed capacity to meet the local demand for cement.