The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on government, through the Ministry of Finance, to grant urgent financial clearance to the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC) to enable it expand operations and create jobs in line with the government’s 24-hour economy agenda.
The appeal was made by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee, George Kwame Aboagye, during a working visit by the committee to the company’s production facility in Accra on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, as part of its oversight responsibilities.
Mr. Aboagye commended the management of GCMC, led by its Managing Director, for efforts to reposition the company despite operational constraints. However, he stressed the need for deliberate government support to unlock the firm’s full potential, particularly in enhancing energy security and job creation.
“The management, spearheaded by the Managing Director, is doing well. But this entity is something that we all as Ghanaians have to look at again. If we are talking about energy security, then we must be prepared to put in the necessary effort to achieve it,” he said.
According to him, GCMC has a clear vision to expand its production capacity, but bureaucratic bottlenecks—particularly within the public procurement process—are hampering progress.
“They have a vision to expand this facility and go far. But the processes they have to go through, especially procurement requirements, are impeding their work. We need to come together as government and as parliamentarians to make GCMC a special case so that we can support their development,” he urged.
Mr. Aboagye noted that with the right support, the company could significantly contribute to addressing unemployment, adding that its retooling and expansion plans have the potential to absorb a large workforce.
“We are crying about unemployment, yet this company has the capacity to employ many people. If their retooling agenda is realised, more jobs will be created. This fits perfectly into the government’s 24-hour economy policy, where people can even work overnight,” he stated.
The Ranking Member further expressed concern that GCMC currently controls only about 30 percent of the domestic market, describing it as unsatisfactory given its strategic importance.
“A company like this having just 30 percent market share is not in good form. With the right backing, they can expand and even meet external demand. We have been told that a company in Sierra Leone has approached them for production, which shows the potential for export and forex generation,” he added.
While clarifying that he was not advocating sole sourcing, Mr. Aboagye called for flexibility in the financial authorization process from the Ministry of Finance to allow the company to respond swiftly to operational needs.
“I’m not calling for sole sourcing, but the commitment authorization from the Finance Minister should be reviewed. There should be a mechanism that allows for urgency, possibly with oversight from another agency, instead of the rigid system that delays progress,” he explained.
He emphasized that supporting GCMC would not only strengthen local industry but also reduce the country’s reliance on imports, thereby easing pressure on the foreign exchange market.
“We should not allow rigid systems to stifle good initiatives. Their intention is to expand and help Ghanaians. We must support them to achieve that,” he concluded.
The visit forms part of the Energy Committee’s broader mandate to assess critical energy infrastructure and institutions, and to recommend policy and operational improvements to enhance sector performance.
By: Christian Kpesese
