Claude Convisser, an American Businessman and Managing Director of Alafei Foods Company Limited, has alleged that between eight to ten government officials are demanding bribe from him.
“I would say eight to ten officials, government officials under the current government … ranging from the presiding municipal assembly member Yendi.”
Speaking in an Interview on an Accra based radio station this morning, he revealed that, some officials demand for bribes prior to approving deals and as a result, some investors leave, adding that, his company has not given out any bribe although they get demands.
“We’ve never done it, we’ve never paid a bribe but we have received demands… and that’s why perhaps we are still waiting on our last off-taker agreement, the only one we seeking from a government organization.”
He further narrated his striking encounter where he had to pay GH₵2,400 transportation expenses to a government official just for an introduction to the flagstaff house who later asked for a bribe where he made it clear he was not going to pay any.
He further said to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid goal which seeks to improve the well being of the economy and bring about sustained development, it requires an environment that does not constantly demand for bribe from investors.
He also noted that, there is no business that is going to succeed if, it has to continually pay bribes or a share of their revenues.
According to him, many businesses in Ghana do not survive for a long term because they spend huge sums of money to pay bribes before they get assistance to develop adding that, the slow growth of Ghana’s economy is linked to the continuous demand of bribes by people in authority from potential investors.
The American investor who has lived in the country for the past six and half years indicated that, Ghana would have been the lead business country in West Africa but for the continuous demand for bribe.
Touching on why it took him about three years to come out with this allegation, he explained, as at the time these developments where taking place he was reluctant about it because a previous issue reported by an investor on the bribery issue, was investigated and was left as such with no actions. So, he assumed a similar thing will be done in his case if it was reported.
He further noted that, he decided to come out now because the issue may block major development in the country.
Giving a background to the issue, he revealed that, his company, Alafei Foods Limited is seeking to set up a soya and vegetable factory under the 1D1F to meet the protein and vitamin needs of the Ghana School Feeding Program in the Northern region.
But, after he applied to set up the factory in Zugu in the Yendi Municipality, his efforts have been met with several frustrations as authorities are not willing to grant him a letter of intent to enable him secure funds from his sponsors.
