By Crispina Cummings
During their oversight work in Kenema, the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Development discovered that the government Senior Trade Inspector in the district was “seriously undermining government efforts”.
The committee says that Kandeh Kanu poses as Acting Proprietor for Punjab Distilleries Factory, the producers of cheap alcoholic drinks which they say contradicts his work as a government official.
They observed that in their inspections at the factory at Hangha Road in Kenema, Kanu was “protecting a private-owned business defying government roles and responsibilities thereby undermining government interest.”
The committee summoned both the Manager of Punjab Distilleries and the Senior Trade Inspector at the Kenema City Council Hall and asked them questions relating to the operations of the factory, NASSIT payment for workers, operational licenses, working and residential permit for their foreign staff.
The committee chairman, Hassan Sheriff, MP and team inspected the factory and found out that the working environment was appalling with no proper sanitation for workers and even the product that was being produced in the factory.
Foday Rado Yoke, MP, noted that the Senior Trade Inspector was not working in line with government policy as stipulated in the Trade Act and was hindering government efforts to raise money.
Responding to the accusations, Kanndeh Kanu said that he was acting as proprietor because the owner of the business was his friend, noting that he was not on payroll at the factory.
Punjab Distilleries manufactures different cheap alcoholic drink among them Fruit Wine.
(C) Politico 25/07/13
