WR CEMENT DISTRIBUTORS ON STRIKE OVER PRICE HIKES (BACK PAGE)

CEMENT distributors in the Western Region have embarked on a strike action to register their displeasure at frequent increases in the price of cement by the Ghana Cement Factory (GHACEM).
They have also ordered drivers loading the product to Kumasi and other parts of the country to halt their operations.
They said they were dissatisfied with the unfair surge in prices without proper consultation.
“We can no longer pass the high price to the public; it is about time we told them enough of the hike,” they said.
They were also of the view that the increases were not fair, since they pre-paid for the commodity, adding that with the price increases they had to struggle to sell because there were other brands of cement on the market that were cheaper than that of GHACEM.
They said in less than three months, the company had increased its price twice and left the public to think they (the distributors) were increasing the prices for high profit.
“We have to face reality that the monopoly of GHACEM is no longer there; there are other producers of the same product in the country and the price is lower than that of GHACEM cement.
“Therefore, we the distributors look stupid and greedy in the eye of the public,” they said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Chairman of the National Association of Cement Distributors, Mr Kofi Afari-Appiah, appealed to the government to intervene to control the price increases by the company.
“On June 16, this year, cement price was increased from GH¢7.13 to GH¢7.59 and on August 24, 2008, the price went up by the same margin of GH¢0.46, which means the unit price at the market would now be more than GH¢8,” he said.
“What we are saying is that, as a matter of urgency, the government should draw the attention of GHACEM to look into its operations to manage the waste in the system instead of passing it on to the public through price increases,” he said.
When contacted, officials of GHACEM confirmed the price increase, but said it would have been proper if the distributors had tabled their concerns instead of embarking on a strike.
“It is rather wrong for them to embark on strike and even order the truck drivers not to load, as well as members not to make payment. As it is now we are waiting for them to write to us,” the officials said.