News
Trade Minister denies issuing any Cement Import licence
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has made it clear that since assuming office, she has not issued any licence for the importation of cement into the country.
Speaking at a meeting with the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers Ghana (COGMAG) in Accra on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Minister expressed concern over the illegal importation of cement into the Ghanaian market.
She described the act as unacceptable and called for immediate steps to stop it.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare explained that although Ghana operates a free economy, all manufacturers and importers are required to obtain valid licences to operate within the cement value chain.
This, she noted, helps regulate the industry and ensures fair business practices.
She commended the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for its efforts in tackling cement smuggling and urged them to intensify their operations to curb the menace completely.
The Minister called on the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to strictly enforce compliance so that only licensed manufacturers and importers remain active in the market.
She stressed the need for high standards and quality control to protect both the industry and consumers.
“I want the Ghanaian brand to adhere to standards in order to obtain the moral right in curbing invaders,” she noted.
The Chairman of COGMAG, Mr. Frederic Albrecht, said that cement prices saw a 20 percent drop in July 2025 due to the stability of the cedi.
He added that the Chamber continues to monitor market conditions and advised consumers to be vigilant against fake cement products.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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