Ghana decides to act tough on illegal scrap metal export

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The Ghana government has decided to act tough on illegal scrap metal exports from the country. Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister for Trade and Industry, while addressing the Parliament, stated that the government will need all the needful to prevent scrap metal exports in order to ensure that local steel industry is fed with enough ferrous metals.

According to the minister, the nine-member ferrous metal monitoring committee formed almost a year before has done a commendable job in restricting illegal scrap exports from the country to a great extent. However loopholes still exist, as many attempts of illegal trade were detected since the country banned scrap metal exports by end-April last year. The minister called upon the committee to work in tandem with all stakeholders to eliminate illegal exports and bring the culprits under law.

Ghana had decided to ban scrap exports from the country in the backdrop of observations that many steel production units are facing acute shortage of raw materials. Owing to shortage of raw materials, majority of the steel mills have not been able to operate to their full capacities. As per surveys conducted, many steel facilities in the country are currently operating only up to 30% or even less than 30% of their capacities.

Meanwhile, Ghana Scrap Dealers Association has been pressing for removal of export ban on products such as steel balls, ductile steel and manganese which are rarely used by domestic steel mills.