Steelworkers Call for Ban On Exportation of Steel Scraps

WORKERS OF the two steel companies in Tema, namely Tema Steel Works and Ferror Fabrik, have appealed to the government to put a ban on the exportation of local steel scraps and to consider the duty tax on the importation of raw materials so that the steel industry can survive and provide jobs for Ghanaians.

In a petition to the sector Minister of Trade and Industries, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, dated September 11, and signed by the chairmen of the two local unions, Mr. Cornelius Gbedjoe, Tema Steel and Frank Anokye, Ferror Fabrik, respectively, the workers recalled that between 1970 and 1990 the government saw the need and banned the exportation of steel scraps so that local steel industries could be fed and steel companies remain in business.

According to the workers, further to the woes of the steel companies, the re-introduction of the exportation of scraps led to the massive importation of scraps and raw materials which attracts five per cent duty tax.

"It is worth noting that even with the local supply of scraps and the zero duty tax on imported raw materials, local industries cannot compete with imported finished goods, such as iron rods, on the local markets due to high operational cost such as electricity and the technology used."

The workers claimed that in their view the slogan "Buy made-in-Ghana goods is unachievable if local industries are put in an awkward situation so as not to exist."