Accra, Jan. 01, GNA - Mr. Joe Baidoe Ansah, Minister of Trade, Industry and the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) on Monday said government would be compelled to control the prices of goods on the market if traders continued to cheat customers.

"Some companies have formed a cartel, which determine the price of certain goods at the detriment of the consumer and this would prompt the government to step in and control the prices of some goods on the market," he said.

The Minister made the comment when he paid a working visit to the Ghana Community Network Services (GCNET) and Gateway Services Limited (GSL), to find that prices of some imported goods had shot up during the Christmas season.

The visit revealed that prices on import duties and taxes had not appreciated in the last three months as some importers had been accusing the government for the increase in prices by attributing to high charges by the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). According to officials of GCNET, some companies had under-declared prices of their goods to them and were rather selling them at exorbitant prices in the market.

The Minister said that companies who were found guilty of under declaring their goods would be dealt with according to the Law.