The Minister for Trade and Industry, Kwabena Tahir Hammond (KT Hammond), has justified his decision to send out members of the Ghana Cement Manufacturers Association from a meeting he held with the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry (GCCI).

According to the minister, he sacked the manufacturers from the meeting because they failed to honor a previously scheduled meeting due to his insistence on media presence during the meeting.

“Let it not be said that I never invited them or consulted them. When I called them, they said they wouldn’t leave the fourth floor of the ministry to the conference room. I personally pleaded with them, but they said they wouldn’t come because of the journalists. I even suggested that if the details of the meeting were their concern, we could let the media leave after our introduction.

But their response was that I should go and do what I have to do with the media first before they come. People are saying I should have been diplomatic, but what was diplomatic about what they said to me?” he stated on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.

He stated that it would have been hypocritical on his part to have allowed the manufacturers to stay in a later meeting where the media was present after declining to meet him earlier on such grounds.

“The same people who said they wouldn’t meet me were sitting in the room, this time with cameras and lights glaring at them... You know me, I am not a hypocrite. I address issues plainly. If you tell me it’s not diplomatic, teach me about diplomacy. That is why I cannot be a diplomat,” he said.

The minister alluded that the actions of the cement manufacturers following his attempt to get a law passed to regulate the cement industry are indicative of some cabal activities in the industry.

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.

GA/EK