<<Print>>

Rebels at the Ivory Coast borders are taken advantage of the inability of inland rice importers to cross the borders with their rice to loot, the New Crusading Guide has learnt. According to our sources, the importers were deceived by government�s directive which gave them the go ahead to continue with their importation only to lose all their goods to the rebels at the borders Our investigations further reveals that series of accusations are been leveled against government for deliberately trying to collapse the business of the local rice importers. The paper learnt that the accusation leveled against government by the rice importers was that after the government had lifted the ban on the importation of rice traders who went to import their goods were still refused entry with their import. Speaking with some of the traders across the country, they told this paper that the little monies they invested have now been locked up living them to their fate. The traders say the act by government is a calculated attempt to bring them down and promote foreign rice importers. The traders lamented that government only gave them two weeks ultimatum from October 14 2013 to November 1, 1013, to stop the rice importation through the boarders and use either the airport or the habour, meaning their means of transportation must either be by ship or plane, which they say they cannot afford due to their capital base. They added that this directive came in at a time when they had spent a lot of money which they acquired through loan to order for goods during the Christmas festivity. The local small scale rice importers further pointed out that they were however excited when government lifted the ban on February 4, 2014, adding that this encouraged more traders to back and invest into the rice importation business. According to them, to their surprise when they got to the borders to pay their duties in order for them to transport their goods, they were denied entry by customs officials. This, the importers say, was a blow to them as they had not received any directive from any government official on the restriction. The distress traders say their goods have now become a �free for all goods� as the rebels have taken advantage of the situation to loot their goods, stressing that they deal in genuine business by paying all their duties accordingly. They further mentioned that their transaction does not in any way cause financial loss to the country as the major currency they transact business is the Cefa , pointing out that it is rather the large scale importers who rather transact businesses in Dollars causing loss to the nation. They however mentioned that the most painful aspect of their situation is where the banks they had borrowed from to do their business are chasing them for their monies which have been locked up. They said this calculated attempt to collapse their businesses does not come as a surprise to them at all as it has always been the dream of large scale rice importers who are mainly foreigners to bring their businesses down in order for the local importers to buy from them. � Our excitement about the Ministry�s new directive has now been shattered resulting in pain and financial loss as boarder officials say they still have to use either the airport or the habour to transport our rice�, the rice importers cried out. According to our sources at the boarders, though the Ministry officially and openly lifted the ban, they have directed officials of the boarders not to allow the rice traders entry living them in a state of devastation as they do not know what to do. Upon interaction with some of the disturbed rice importers, they mentioned that most of them just have GHC 1500 as their capital base, adding that going through the airport or the habour means indirectly eliminating them from their businesses. Crying out to government not to turn its back on them as most of them are the bread winners of their family, the rice importers say they have always pay the relevant revenue due the state in through the appropriate authorities. They further mentioned that the indirect or �secret ban� at the boarders has disorganized their business activities resulting in financial loss as most of them borrow their capitals from the financial institutions. Our information again revealed that secret ban of rice importation through the boarders to push the local importers out of business as to favour foreign importers as they use the port and the airport. The Ministry of Trade and Industry few days after putting a ban on rice importation through the boarders lifted it to allow local traders continue with their businesses. The directive which was served to importers of rice in October 14, 2013 stated that "with effect from 1st November, 2013, all imports of rice shall be done through only the Kotoka International Airport, Tema and Takoradi Ports." This directive, according to traders was too short as they had only two weeks ultimatum A statement signed by Nana Akrasi Sarpong, Acting Director of Communication and Public Affairs at the Ministry said, the lifting of the ban would assist importers who have made financial commitments or advance payment for rice from their suppliers abroad. The Ministry's directive among other things warned that "importation of rice through all land frontiers shall be illegal," and "any person who imports rice through any port other than the declared Ports commits an offence and shall be prosecuted, and in addition have such imports confiscated." The policy, according to the Trade Ministry was "intended to provide a framework of administrative procedures through which the numerous unfair trade practices including evasion of import duties and other taxes, under-invoicing, infringement of trademarks, and smuggling shall be controlled." But Thursday January 2014's statement said that policy exists no more. They said they are therefore appealing to President Mahama to come to their aid and rescue them from the unfair treatment been meted out to them by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as their business is not in any way a threat to the economy.