Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, a broadcaster with Okay FM, has questioned the decision by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Kwabena Tahir Hammond (KT Hammond), to dismiss representatives of the Cement Manufacturers Association from a scheduled meeting with the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GCCI) held at the Christ the King in Accra on July 20, 2024.

Nkrumah Tikese questioned KT Hammond’s failure to use a more diplomatic means to resolve the impasse between his ministry and the cement manufacturers, criticizing his rather confrontational style.

Making some comments during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Construction and Industry, Nkrumah Tikese urged the cement manufacturers to be patient as KT Hammond will most likely not stay on as trade minister after the 2024 elections.

According to him, in the event the NPP government retains power, it is very unlikely that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will keep KT Hammond as the Minister of Trade and Industry.

“He claims he couldn’t withstand the cement manufacturers. Has he established a company? Ever since he was born, has he set up a company?

“Be patient and exercise some restraint. He will be gone in December. He will be gone because I don’t think even if Bawumia wins the election, he will retain him as the trade minister,” he said.

KT Hammond dominated news headlines recently after viral videos captured him sacking members of the Cement Manufacturers Association from a meeting.

A video from the event captured Minister Hammond insisting that the cement manufacturers leave the room before the meeting commenced. "I was invited by the Chamber of Construction. I wasn’t invited by the Association of Cement Manufacturers. I wasn’t invited by them. Can they leave?” the Minister asked.

He explained that he had already met with the manufacturers and that the purpose of this meeting was specifically to engage with the Chamber of Construction.

"It's either I leave or they leave," the minister firmly stated, despite efforts from representatives of both associations to justify the manufacturers' presence.

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