Dark Clouds Over Sale of CIBA Goods

THE SALE of items imported into the country a few years ago by the Council for Indigenous Business Association (CIBA) has attracted suspicion as patronisers begin to spot dark clouds.

The items, monde unit, sterilising cabinet, thermal stove (electric), tongue machine, electric water heater, parasol umbrella, facial/scalp steamer and rollers have been stocked at the Ghana Publishing Corporation (GPC) warehouses at Tema.

By a letter dated September 19, 2001, reference DC 61/163/010, Mr. S. B. Otchere of Siabour Mart was appointed as the auctioneer for the CIBA goods.

The Prudential Bank Limited has approved in principle to issue a guarantee of ?1 billion on behalf of Nsutaman Ltd/Siabour Mart in favour of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The bank's letter was addressed to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry on October 1, 2001.

The letter further stated that "on the basis of our intent to guarantee, you would be able to direct the auctioneer to take the necessary steps to auction the goods and lodge the proceeds with the Prudential Bank Ltd, Tema branch for onward transfer to CIBA Goods Escrow Account No. 01256-600-580-20 at the Bank of Ghana."

The auction began in October last year and over ?1billion was sold. Investigations further revealed that the auctioneer went ahead and carried newspaper adverts to facilitate the sales which were patronised by people from all over the country.

Suddenly, the Ministry of Trade and Industry's representative at the site refused to open the place for people who had already paid to collect their items.

For two weeks now, there had been no sales even though a large crowd kept visiting the warehouses to purchase the items.

It was further alleged that a deputy minister has asked that sale of the goods be stopped and when probed further, reports gathered were that the goods would be sent to specific towns and villages to help women in business.

To add insult to injury, a new auctioneer was commissioned to oversee the disposal of the items with a ?400million guarantee instead of the ?1billion demanded from the other auctioneer.

Moreover, clients who deposited monies over ?50million and have not been served are flocking the place to demand their items on daily basis.

The Ministry of Trade representative when reached denied the assertion that there was embargo on the sale of the goods, but was emphatic about instruction from Accra he was waiting for.

The deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Abubakar Saddique Boniface went to the GPC yard at Tema on Tuesday (12/03/02) and gave specific instructions.

Our source who posed as a buyer said the deputy minister stated that the Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs. Gladys Asmah will be selecting items for women before the sales could continue.

This is because at the time of opening the sales, selected CIBA goods reserved for women were sold by the auctioneer due to the rush for the goods.

The CIBA items were imported into the country during the previous administration targeting hairdressers.

This raised loud noise and finally the Ministry of Trade and Industry through the Ghana Supply Commission (GSC) cleared the items from the Tema port into the warehouses.

Several of the items had gone bad due to exposure to the weather at the Port.

Most of the containers have also started rusting. Instead of auctioning, conditional sales has been introduced, repelling otherwise enthusiastic clients.

With the six months guarantee from the bank, leaving only one month, Siabour Mart was able to auction ?1billion from a target of ?3billion before the sales were unofficially stopped.

A woman whose patience could not be controlled after shuttling daily to the place for two weeks after her money was collected want the Trade and Industry Minister to intervene before things get out of control.