A fortnightly newsletter that takes a closer look at the significance of truth and falsehood in today’s news stories.
A maiden DUBAWA Ghana investigation uncovers an unorthodox sale of expired products to unsuspecting consumers with dire public health implications. The company involved is Fareast Mercantile, now owned by Imperial Logistics, which is one of Ghana’s biggest importers and wholesalers. For years, Fareast Mercantile has supplied expired products (consumables such as biscuits, margarine, and non-consumables such as detergents) to some businessmen who also sell to retailers at a section of the Central Business District (CBD) in Agbogbloshie – one of the busiest market centres in Accra, Ghana. The alarm this investigation loudly chimes goes beyond the dubious business engagements by the company owners to the very survival of Ghanaian citizens – some of whom have already consumed or used these expired products sold at giveaway prices.
The investigation titled “Consuming Trash: Unravelling the multi-million cedi business in Ghana’s expired products” is segmented into a three-part text series and a two-part audio-visual documentary detailing the process of the investigations.
PART 1 – Consuming Trash: Unravelling The Multi-Million Cedi Business In Ghana’s Expired Products
This first part shows how DUBAWA got intel on the dealings, proceeded to verify how true the allegations could be, and finally started unravelling the process of the suppliers, retailers, and shops involved in the business through months of monitoring all suspected parties. It also uncovers how cartons of one-year-old expired Mcvities biscuits were sold.
Read the entire part here.
PART 2 – Consuming Trash: Unravelling The Multi-Million Cedi Business In Ghana’s Expired Products
The second part reveals Fareast Mercantile’s documentation, e-mail communication, and business marketing and pricing strategies used in liquidating the expired products first to the businessmen at CMB and then to unsuspecting consumers. It also shows how DUBAWA involved the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, leading to the arrest of one of the suspected suppliers – a businessman.
Read the details here.
PART 3 – Consuming Trash: Unravelling The Multi-Million Cedi Business In Ghana’s Expired Products
After the initial arrest of one of the suspects, this third part details how the company tries to find the source that leaked all the information to DUBAWA and how the CID officer attached to the FDA confiscated laptops belonging to Imperial Logistics in order to stop them from tampering with evidence. This part also tells how the logistics and supply chain manager, and the warehouse supervisor of the company were invited by the FDA to assist in the investigations and the company’s attempt to deny the allegations made against them. Read all about it here.
PART 4 – Consuming Trash: Unravelling The Multi-Million Cedi Business In Ghana’s Expired Products
Watch and listen to, among others, how the suspect arrested admitted to selling products that have expired for three or more months, and how the suspect has been engaging in the business for eight years. Watch the trailer of the audio-visual documentary here.
PART 5 – Consuming Trash: Unravelling The Multi-Million Cedi Business In Ghana’s Expired Products
Do not miss the full documentary this week on Dubawa’s YouTube!
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