Policy think tank IMANI Center for Policy and Education is calling on the government to formally repeal Legislative Instrument (LI) 2491, the cement pricing regulation introduced by the previous administration, warning that leaving the law on the books continues to undermine investor confidence even as the current government takes a more liberal approach to the sector.
In its latest criticality analysis covering March 30 to April 2, 2026, IMANI argues that while the Mahama administration has effectively stepped back from the aggressive price control enforcement that characterised LI 2491 under the previous regime, the law remains legally active and continues to impose compliance obligations on manufacturers.
Under LI 2491, introduced in 2024, cement manufacturers are required to file monthly price data and cost breakdowns with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for approval before publication. IMANI describes this as an unnecessary administrative burden that creates uncertainty and adds friction to business operations, even when enforcement is lax.
“While the current administration has taken a more hands-off approach and effectively de-prioritized strict price controls, the legislative ghosts of the past still haunt the sector. Laws like L.I. 2491 are currently loosely enforced, but they remain active,” the analysis stated.
IMANI’s core argument is that ignoring a law is not the same as removing it. Businesses, it says, operate best under clear and predictable rules, not under the threat of policies that could be reactivated at any time. The think tank warns that retaining dormant but restrictive laws on the books undermines investor confidence and slows decision-making within the sector.
The analysis calls for total repeal, arguing it would remove bureaucratic friction and signal a firm commitment to a market-driven framework where prices are determined by competition rather than administrative processes.
Formally scrapping LI 2491, IMANI argues, would go beyond reducing paperwork. It would reinforce the government’s liberalisation stance and potentially encourage efficiency, attract investment, and foster healthier competition among Ghana’s 14 active cement producers.
At the same time, IMANI is clear that liberalisation alone is not sufficient to bring down cement prices. The think tank points to persistent structural cost pressures that regulation cannot address, including delays at Ghana’s ports, inefficiencies in cargo handling, and prolonged vessel wait times for clinker offloading. These bottlenecks inflate production costs before manufacturing even begins.
IMANI’s proposed role for government is narrower but more targeted: ensuring efficient port operations, enforcing technical standards, and maintaining a level playing field for all participants. Lower logistics costs and improved operational efficiency across the value chain, it argues, offer a more credible path to stable consumer prices than administrative controls.
The cement sector has been a recurring flashpoint in Ghana’s regulatory debate. When LI 2491 took effect in September 2024, manufacturers refused to comply with Cement Manufacturing Development Committee directives, and no sanctions were ultimately imposed. Previous IMANI analyses have shown that despite a 63% cedi depreciation between 2022 and 2024, retail cement prices rose only 24% in local currency terms, suggesting the market was already absorbing cost pressures without state intervention.
