Chinese Firm Sunda Evades Millions in Tax, Produces Shoddy Goods
Sunda International, a major Chinese conglomerate, is at the heart of a growing scandal, accused of large-scale tax evasion, producing substandard products, and breaking Ghanaian laws—all while allegedly bribing customs and immigration officers to keep quiet.
Registered as an importer and manufacturer of ceramics and sanitary ware, Sunda has allegedly gone rogue, branching out into making baby diapers, washing powder, and chemicals without the proper accreditation.
Despite warnings from the Ghana Standards Authority to cease these unlicensed activities, the company reportedly continues to flout regulations, risking the safety of Ghanaian consumers.
The allegations don’t stop at dodgy products. Sunda is also accused of systematically evading taxes on over 200 containers of goods it brings into Ghana each month.
The company reportedly clears its imports at the Tema and Takoradi ports while paying only a fraction of the fees it owes.How?
According to whistleblowers, officials at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs, and the Ghana Immigration Service are all in on the act. In return for turning a blind eye, these officials are allegedly rewarded with ceramic tiles and other favours, leaving Ghana’s economy out of pocket to the tune of millions.
This kind of corruption is an open secret, insiders claim. The shocking revelations highlight just how far Sunda’s influence appears to extend, with accusations of deep-rooted collusion between the company and local authorities.It’s not just the tax evasion that’s raising eyebrows. Ghanaian consumers could be unwittingly buying substandard products from Sunda’s unauthorized manufacturing plants. Instead of sticking to ceramics and sanitary ware as they are licensed to do, Sunda has branched out into making baby diapers, washing powder, and chemicals, sparking fears over the safety and quality of these goods.
The Ghana Standards Authority has reportedly issued multiple warnings to the company, ordering them to stop production of goods they are not licensed to make. But these warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears, with Sunda continuing its operations as if they are above the law.The allegations suggest a shocking level of corruption at Ghana’s ports.
Officials tasked with ensuring goods meet the necessary standards and taxes are properly paid are instead accused of accepting under-the-table deals in exchange for allowing Sunda’s questionable imports to slip through the net.
The implications for Ghana’s public purse—and its public safety—are alarming.With accusations of tax dodging, substandard products, and bribery swirling around, the Ghanaian government is facing growing pressure to crack down on Sunda International and the officials accused of collusion.
Many are calling for an urgent investigation into the company’s operations and for any officials found guilty of accepting bribes to be brought to justice.
The scale of the alleged fraud could have devastating consequences for Ghana’s already struggling economy, and confidence in the country’s regulatory systems is hanging by a thread.
The Ghana Standards Authority has already taken steps to curb Sunda’s illegal manufacturing, but for many, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real question is whether Ghana’s government will step up and hold both Sunda and the corrupt officials accountable for their actions.As more evidence of wrongdoing comes to light, the public is demanding answers. Ghana cannot afford to let foreign companies operate above the law, nor can it tolerate corruption at such high levels within its own borders. Will this scandal be the wake-up call the government needs to restore integrity to its systems?
Source:The Hawk’s News Desk Report
