3 Arrested For Re-bagging Inferior Cement

Three persons have been arrested for allegedly re-bagging cached foreign cement in GHACEM branded bags and selling them to the unsuspecting public.

Samuel Azu, 31, Francis Cato, 35 and Philp Quarcoo, 50, were apprehended by the Tema Community 2 District Police in Community 11, Tema.

They are said to be head porters of Sol Cement, which are imported from China.

They usually collect cached cement from the company, fill them into GHACEM bags and sell them to the public.

The three suspects would be charged with the offense of forging trademark contrary to section 161, Act 2960. Five of their accomplices are currently on run.

It is believed that the suspects also go to construction sites where they pick empty GHACEM branded bags and fill them with the inferior cement for sale to retail shops at cheaper prices.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, Tema Regional Police spokeswoman, who briefed DAILY GUIDE, said the suspects were in the process of re-bagging the inferior cement when the police swooped on them upon a tip-off.

She said the arrest was effected on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at about 6 pm when the suspects were busy undertaking the dubious act in a house at community 11 in the evening.

According to her, the suspects also buy empty GHACEM bags from unknown sources believed to be working in the company.

The PRO said police were on the heels of the remaining five suspects who managed to escape.

She noted that the suspects, who admitted the offence, said they received the cached cement as gift from the Sol Cement Company and decided to re-bag them.

The police officer said they would be arraigned before court after police investigations.

Dr. Goerge Dawson-Ahmoah, Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghana Cement, speaking to DAILY GUIDE, said that the incident could tarnish the image of GHACEM and they would collaborate with police to punish the offenders to serve as deterrent to others.

He advised buyers to always check the seals anytime they purchase GHACEM products, adding that bags, which have glues, are likely to have been re-bagged.

The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director urged retailers to desist from buying products at cheaper prices with the intention of selling them to the public at the exorbitant prices in order to make more profits.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema