Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Kwaku Kwarteng, has lamented the escalation of the cost of building materials in the country.
Making an urgent statement on the issue, Mr. Kwarteng, who is the current Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, wondered what could be driving the cost of these items up.
He wants a parliamentary probe into the issue.
Commenting on the matter, Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kwame Governs Agbodza, attributed the rising cost of building materials to the high cost of fuel.
For his part, the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson, attributed it to market forces. He said as a free economy, it is a matter of demand and supply.
For his part, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, believes the rising cost of building materials could be artificial. He was of the view that a certain cabal could be behind it. He thus suggested a probe by a parliamentary committee.
First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, directed the Finance Committee joined by the leadership of Trades and Industry as well as Works and Housing to look into the issues and report back to the House in four weeks.
