Ban on imported sugar: government assures consumers

The Minister of Trade says there will be no shortage of sugar or an increase in the price of the commodity in Cameroon

Following the recent ban on the importation of sugar into the country by the minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, there were fears that the Muslim community may celebrate Ramadan this year without sugar in quality and quantity. This was as a result of the fact that questions were on the lone authorized National Sugar Production Company, SOSUCAM, if they will be able to satisfy demand in a period where demand is expected to increase following the Muslim feast.

Assurance from the government to consumers came through the Minister of Trade who in a press conference of Tuesday, May 08 2018 in Yaoundé reiterated government’s determination to fight against price hikes, illicit speculation and the respect of distribution during this Muslim festive period.

Minister Mbarga Atangana did not only assure consumers that their interest would be respected but went as far as to indicate that the government has taken firm measures for the distribution of Sugar across the country which he says is available in quantity and quality.

Throughout the period of Ramadan, sugar especially in powdered form beside been sold in quarter shops would be sold in front of Mosques and other Muslim prayer units. Distribution to the hinterlands would also be assured to satisfy those in the nooks and crannies of the country.

The Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana this Wednesday May 9, 2018 paid a visit to the different ware houses of SOSUCAM in the presence of some economic operators of the sugar sector, to confirm and take necessary measures for continuous production for the interest of consumers

National Production of Sugar

National production of sugar is the sole responsibility of SOSUCAM. The company as of the 30^th of April 2018 had in stock in their warehouses of Mbandjock and Nkoteng, 52.000 tons of sugar ready for distribution. The Minister of Trade who revealed this figure indicated that by the end of the year 2018, an additional 27.000 tons would be produced by SOSUCAM.

This year the production of sugar will end in the month of July precisely on the 16^th only to resume in November as is always the case annually.

The minister under the cover of economic operators confirmed that the quantity in stock will satisfy public consumer demand.

Besides the National Production of Sugar, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana told the press that the imported stock of sugar not yet distributed for sale in the markets stands at 30.000 tons found in separate ware houses across the country.

The Ban

The ban on the importation of sugar in Cameroon was provoked by the fact that some imported sugar were found to be of low quality and present in abundant quantity in markets at disloyal competitive prices.

It was also discovered that the importation process do not respect the legislation in force in Cameroon both in terms of period for importation and importation procedures especially at the level of the customs.

It was against this backdrop that the management of SOSUCAM presented a complaint threatening to stop its activities if corrective measures are not taken and on time. The company placed the close to 8.000 workers of SOSUCAM at the verge of losing their jobs coupled with heavy financial deficits of above 30 billion FCFA.

These and more are what pushed the government to place a ban on the importation of sugar, time for the situation to be brought to normal.