CUTS Raises Alarm Over GH¢12 Cement Surcharge, Questions Uniform Pricing
A fresh controversy has emerged in Ghana’s cement industry after manufacturers agreed to add a GH¢12 surcharge to each bag of cement, with a consumer and competition advocacy group questioning whether the arrangement could undermine fair competition.
CUTS International Ghana says it is concerned that competing cement producers have settled on the same additional charge instead of independently deciding how much of their increased operational costs should be passed on to customers. The organisation believes such uniform pricing deserves closer scrutiny.
The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG), says the additional charge is linked to the growing cost of keeping clinker vessels waiting at the Tema Port. According to the chamber, vessel waiting periods that averaged about seven days at the beginning of the year have increased to between 30 and more than 40 days in August.
COCMAG estimates that the prolonged delays have generated between US$45 million and US$50 million in demurrage expenses across the industry during the first eight months of 2026. The GH¢12 charge consists of GH¢10 before tax, with another GH¢2 covering applicable taxes and levies.
However, CUTS argues that the fact that the charge is described as a demurrage surcharge does not remove its impact on consumers because the amount ultimately becomes part of what buyers pay for cement.
The organisation says cement companies do not necessarily face identical operating costs, pointing to differences in shipping arrangements, stock levels, financing, clinker volumes and other business factors. It therefore believes individual manufacturers should calculate their own costs and decide separately whether to absorb the increase or pass some of it on to customers.
CUTS has consequently urged COCMAG to explain whether the GH¢12 figure is simply a recommendation or a collective decision that all member companies are expected to follow. It has also warned against using future monitoring exercises to exchange sensitive information about prices, production and individual company costs.
At the same time, CUTS has called for urgent measures to address congestion at Tema Port, saying the underlying port challenges must be resolved without weakening competition within the cement market.
The group further wants Ghana to move faster on legislation establishing a comprehensive competition framework, arguing that stronger rules are needed to prevent anti-competitive practices and protect consumers.
For now, the cement manufacturers maintain that the surcharge is intended to deal with extraordinary port-related expenses and is expected to remain in place until December 31, 2026, subject to monitoring and review.
Source: GhanaNsem
