Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has advised Minister of Trade and Industry K.T. Hammond to withdraw the Legislative Instrument (L.I) on cement price regulation.
This recommendation comes in response to constitutional concerns raised by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
The L.I was presented to the House on July 2 and is set to mature into law after 21 sitting days. However, Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu questioned the legal authority of the Ghana Standards Authority to regulate prices, arguing that the Ghana Standard Authority Act 2022, Act 10 (78), section 80 pertains to sale and advertising, not pricing.
Following a debate from both sides of the House, Speaker Bagbin suggested that the Trades Minister reconsider the L.I. He highlighted the challenge posed by Article 11 (7), noting that the House may struggle to achieve the required two-thirds majority to annul an instrument lacking a clear legal basis.
Bagbin recommended that the sponsors of the instrument re-evaluate and, if necessary, withdraw and rephrase it to align with statutory requirements.
He clarified that his advice was not a directive but a suggestion aimed at ensuring the L.I complies with legal standards.
