Bolgatanga (Upper East) - For the past two months shortage of cement in Bolgatanga and its environs has led to a price hike of the commodity. Before the shortage the price of a bag of cement ranged between 40,000 and 42,000 cedis but now it sells at between 48,000 and 50,000 cedis.

Some of the dealers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) attributed the scarcity to lack of transport to cart the commodity from Tema. They said the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire had diverted the interest of most heavy-duty truck owners to that route. Other sellers have no tangible reasons but have joined in the arbitrary increase of the price.

The situation has slowed down the completion of government and private projects within the district. Cement users have, therefore, appealed to the GHACEM to open a depot in the Upper East Region as early as possible to save them from extortion by some unscrupulous dealers.