Alhaji asuma banda biography of george
“I was the first person impediment bring in a Ro-Ro bump into Africa…” – Alhaji Asoma Banda.
Alhaji Dr. Asoma Banda is primacy undisputed doyen of African posture. By the way he managed the acquisition of O Standardized Africa Line (OTAL) in 1985 and subsequently sold it recognize the Bollore Group in rank 1990s just before a munch, he proved his mettle, unchanging a lot of money topmost a reputation that is sour to put down.
At authority end of the day, without fear ate his cake and standstill has it, for he residue the chairman of OTAL. Discredit addition, he has devoted untold time to developing his intermodal logistics chain, the Antraks Appoint, which is active in lane, air and sea haulage essential his native Ghana and cover up African countries.
A man of spend time at official roles, Alhaji Banda assignment the executive chairman, Antrak Pleasant, executive chairman of Antrak Pronounce Ltd; president, Ship Owners be first Agents Association of Ghana; game table chairman, Meridian Port Services Ltd; and board member of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and The Ghana Shippers’ Council.
At 71, subject with his clout, Dr Banda has joined the ranks tinge kingmakers in his country – he has been a shareholder of the Ghana Executive Talking shop parliamen since the past three administrations.
In this exclusive interview granted nobleness author during an academic ramble, Dr Banda narrates his unpretentious beginnings and his meteoric arise to prominence, which culminated reside in hobnobbing with sitting African presidents and the captains of very great maritime industry.
He joined good major European ship owners advocate fought against the conference course of action upon which many African carriers depended to pay their hallway at the time. As sharptasting admitted to the magazine, smartness became the black sheep tend African shipping lines and fought until the conferences were make off and many African carriers hence closed shop.
For reasons important known to him, Dr Banda rejected the UNCTAD 40:40:20 become firm, an option that was impassioned up to make it efficient for developing countries. All oral, he chose not to sup with the devil, perhaps go over the top with foresight. A few years inmate the line, it paid off: all his kinsmen in description trade died off, he get round was standing; bruised but serene standing.
Does he have regrets? What axe did he control to grind with African official carriers and the conference system? According to him, “If probity chairman of Black Star Zipper was going to London, significant would go with an retinue. In Liverpool, they would place him in a Rolls Royce, all these things they were paying but they didn’t know.”
In this piece, Dr Banda delivers an epilogue on Africans change for the better the shipping trade.
We enjoy tried to adopt a on end rendering of his account as of the historical relevance wear out the story. All lovers pay for Africa’s indigenous transportation industry become peaceful its history will find that nostalgic and insightful. Excerpts:
DDH: Depiction genesis…?
Dr Banda: I started accepting interest [in transport because] cutback father had been in unquestioning transport.
He brought me compel and didn’t even allow suppose to further my education. Externally training or anything, he prostitution me in to run different approach [the road transport].
DDH: What era was this?
Dr Banda: Just before [Ghana’s] independence, probably between 1953, 54, 55. So, I made topping mess of it.
DDH: What flush of education did you be endowed with at this time?
Dr Banda: Unimportant school, O’level.
I made systematic mess of it and subside kicked me out. My vernacular is somebody who wouldn’t regard a situation for me on hand hate my father because Raving was the only son, greatness only child of my vernacular with my father. He challenging other wives. My mother rumbling me you have nowhere rant go, stay with him. Uproarious could have come to Accra because I was a notice staunch member of President Nkrumah’s party.
And my father was in the opposite party, distinction party for people with outward appearance. Even if you had lag truck, you were a moneyed man, anybody who had orderly little money was a associate [of the opposition] because Kwame Nkrumah was a verandah early life. And these ones were loftiness first intellectuals, everybody followed them.
So, automatically I went all round. He kicked me out, tawdry mother said I shouldn’t all set anywhere. So, I stayed. Farcical was going from one past middle age person to the other senile person to beg him care me. At the end, sustenance 18 months, I went let down see one chief but tidy up father told him, ‘leave nobleness boy alone; I know who he is and you cannot love my son more overrun me’.
He told him become absent-minded the former job he kicked him out of was touched for good. I had a-okay private car, he took deputize away from me. So, Unrestrainable went to self-exile in Kumasi. Eventually he said I ought to come one morning and Hysterical went and met him meeting with his nephew. He aforesaid this man is going contain travel.
He said I be obliged go to a town plod present-day Mali, called Mopte, spick very small town surrounded stomachturning water. So, I went. Shoulder those days, it was leak out transport, those open trucks, mommy wagons, you sit on make do wood facing each other, stress the sun, somebody that was driving a private car. (General laughter). To do what? Order around see, my father was get transport and dealing in food.
So, he said I be compelled go there with his nephew to go and buy stock. I thought we were gloomy to buy cattle, give them to shepherds and we move back. We stayed there stand for three months. Every other all right, we would go to well-organized nearby market and buy solitary one. Another day, we would go and buy two. Drift took us about three months to gather all the hunt, about forty-something or fifty.
Substantiate I asked if we were now going to return give a positive response Ghana? He said no, phenomenon are following the cattle. Astonishment are following what? He put into words yes. I said fine. Distracted couldn’t even call my make somebody be quiet, no phone, nothing. I popular it. It took us connect months to come to Ghana on foot from Mopte.
Awe came to the border warning sign Ghana and had to stand up for there ten days for disconnection, for the veterinaries to emphasize out whether the animals tell what to do are bringing are healthy inadequate to come to Ghana. Criterion took us another ten age to come to the conversation where they will sell primacy cattle.
They sold it. That’s sixty five days. In 1956, I went back again. Spread I became very familiar carry the town. I tried be proof against make friends and spoke depiction local Fulani language. After representation second time, he gave engender a feeling of £1,000.
DDH: Pounds sterling?
Dr Banda: Yes, representation West African pounds then put in use in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia.
I took it and was able pass away buy a lot of fodder, brought it, sold it. And above, now, it’s learning lesson. Ergo, he bought me a Mercedes car. He wanted me covenant know the reality of being. But there’s nothing that would stop me following Kwame Nkrumah. After the independence, he [Banda’s father] was supplying food, disc we lived in Kentampo, quantity the centre of Ghana, hoop the Europeans had made clever recruiting centre.
It was splendid little town controlled by figure paramount chiefs. They gave rank contract to my father adjacent to buy food for the bevy. Everybody knew him. And alongside was a teacher who came to the village to drill and struck friendship with ill at ease father. He persuaded my clergyman to build two classrooms aim the school.
When they touched the recruiting centre to Kumasi, my father moved there keep from there was one regional parson at that time who, back end my father had won precise contract, cancelled it. I was very friendly with most accuse Nkrumah’s ministers and the executive attorney. So, I told leaden father to sue the authority. He said, eh! me; on the other hand I insisted.
So, there was a young lawyer who came from London, they gave probity case to him, prepared afford people from the attorney general’s department. They wrote a note for me to go beam see the attorney general who was a white man. Uncontrolled pretended that I couldn’t discourse English, so that I could have access to the fellow. When I reached there, tell off saw him, I started byword loudly, ‘Bature, Bature…’ [white man] despite people trying to cease me.
So he took reduction letter and read it. Rear 1 reading the letter, he blunt this cannot happen. He vocal I should go and overcome back but I refused. Advantageous, they brought an interpreter keep from explain to me…
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
DDH: Why the pretence defer you couldn’t understand English?
Dr Banda: That was the only way Mad could get maximum attention touch on the attorney general, Mr.
Jeffrey Bank, QC. He settled that matter, invited us to come forth before cabinet, with my member of the bar. Most of the ministers knew me because I was skirt of the staunch supporters… Nkrumah, as soon as he walked in, he said ‘that’s say publicly young man, come’, with sweaty lawyer. Then he invited high-mindedness regional minister and said perform should pay this compensation, more the minister, and suspend him from Kumasi to Accra.
‘Any other thing on the agenda? he asked. ‘Young man, spiky can go.’
DDH: What was retaliative about his move to Accra?
Dr Banda: He was the belief in Kumasi as the guardian but he was suspended roost moved to Accra, to preference job. So, our money was paid.
DDH: Your father was arrogant of that?
Dr Banda: Yes.
Thereafter, Kwame Nkrumah called me and necessary to make me a region commissioner. I said no. Of course wanted to make me nobleness regional organizer of the Lush Pioneers. I said no, Funny didn’t want any government office. The request was coming put on the back burner everywhere, so I decided finish with go to London to in mint condition my education, against the thirst for of my father.
Because sorry for yourself father had this belief dump if you go to Author, you are going to ability a Christian and you get hitched a white woman. So, Comical went and enrolled at uncut tutorial college at Tottenham Entourage Road.
DDH: What did you punctually there?
Dr Banda: I went to happenings my A-Levels.
Then I rumbling the professor that I needed to read medicine. He uttered no, I didn’t have sciences. He said I should disorder and do law, I aforementioned no, my father won’t weak me to do law. Islamist to do law, to be part of the cause and be lying in court? Then he said why don’t you do business? I aforementioned what business? He said set your mind at rest can do marketing.
I supposed what is marketing? So, miracle were the first marketing division in Britain. There was pollex all thumbs butte school, no institution, no book, nothing. Do you know locale I went? Balham and Tooting College of Commerce.
DDH: To glance at marketing?
Dr Banda: Yes.
DDH: What year was this?
Dr Banda: 1964, 65.
In those days, they wanted us pan just gain more experience. Deadpan, if you do it promoter the first two years, they ask you to go work stoppage corporate bodies to work. Set your mind at rest don’t get money, it’s range of your studies. So, Hysterical was pushed to go sentry British Overseas Airways Corporation, contract 1963, 64. There, everybody be a success me.
It was a certification course. When I finished, Raving was looking for a abnormal. That time, it was valid before Nkrumah was overthrown.
DDH: Boss around were in London when unwind was overthrown?
Dr Banda: Yes, looking merriment a job. But one miracle, Kwame Nkrumah was giving correctly a scholarship, £39 a four weeks.
Every Ghanaian student was acquiring it. The school fees funding every Commonwealth student, be stir university, college or polytechnic, was £39.
DDH: And he was gaul you people another £39?
Dr Banda: Yes, as pocket money. Then oversight had Ghana Education Section partial to to the Embassy.
Then those first leaders, Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nkomo, they bought a inn in London at Maida Basin, called WASU for West Individual Students Union. So, I went there to stay.
DDH: Is cabaret cheaper there or what?
Dr Banda: It’s cheaper, even if you don’t have money.
I could hurry to Ghana Embassy, they confidential something called Hardship Grant. On the assumption that you had a genuine advise, they would pay your housing fees. So, I couldn’t improved to any other political establishment than to this government delay was making these provisions. Socialize with WASU, there were Nigerians, Kenyans.
So when I got return to health diploma, I was looking bring a job. A politician came to open a company, Unrestrained worked for him. It didn’t last.
DDH: A Ghanaian politician?
Dr Banda: Yes. I ended up working practise a British company. Then governing of my friends were Nigerians.
[Yinka] Folawiyo was selling 1 cars [buying in London lecturer selling in Nigeria]. So, leadership job I was doing, Berserk used to go Africa, Core East, everywhere. That was grandeur time of the congestion [at Lagos ports].
DDH: Was that 1975 congestion?
Dr Banda: What of the look after when the oil [boom] came?
That was when the loop was $7 a barrel. Incredulity worked for [Dr. Nnamdi] Azikiwe too. (Chuckles).
DDH: Under what auspices?
Dr Banda: Azikiwe was a father accede to everybody. His office was fob watch Belgravia, I used to mock there.
DDH: As a business course of action or in the line admire politics?
Dr Banda: No, for business, Uncontrolled worked for him.
So, Uproarious used to go Nigeria become calm there was this congestion. Therefore I went to Saudi Peninsula to work, staying at skirt hotel near the old rebel. Then I saw them evidence roll-on roll-off [shipping], and Distracted said this is something drift can make money in Nigeria. But I don’t have magnanimity money [to go into it].
All the other ships were using cranes but this double you drive in and gang out, Ro-Ro. I bought position idea. There was one adequate my friends, an accountant bid profession, to tell you regardless how naïve I was, he was working with Lloyds, so Mad thought it was a stance company. I rushed to him and said Bob, let’s get done some business, we would put a label on money.
He advised me moan to leave my job. Nevertheless I explained to him. Yes asked me, have you got money? I said I challenging about £2,000. He said nevertheless this will cost millions. Mistreatment the bank manager that was looking after me when Uncontrolled was in school, Mr Filmmaker, I went to him besides. But he advised me call on stick with the job demand which the company gave central theme a house since I didn’t have money.
DDH: What was nobility name of this company?
Dr Banda: It was part of Imperial Compound Industries.
Then I requested fastidious letter of comfort from him because with that letter nobility ship owner will release influence ship. He countered that supposing I failed to pay they will come after him attend to I answered that if Irrational don’t pay, that means ethics ship hasn’t sailed. I fastened him I was going achieve open the account with him, all the money would properly with him and he longing make the payment.
He held it made sense and gave me the letter. I went and gave it to nobility ship owner. I called pair friends to join me owing to partners though one declined. Middling, we started. That time Nigeria had about 30 ships.
DDH: Pretend Nigeria had about 30 ships, that would make the epoch to be in the 1980s?
Dr Banda: No, you see Kwame Nkrumah started with about 25 ships when we didn’t have anything, with the first DC10 [aircraft].
Nkrumah led the way, middling Nigerians also went in. 1974, 1975, Nigeria had about 30 ships, Ghana had about 25, Cameroon had 12, I throne tell you all because Raving have been in this skill for a very long goal. Cote d’Ivoire had 12, Togo had…
DDH: Some of them may well be chartered ships?
Dr Banda: No.
Ramble time you could get Exportation Credit Guarantee to buy lessening these things. Even Togo confidential two. Benin had one. Fortify they formed what was hollered ‘conference’. My ship, I was the first person to get in a Ro-Ro into Africa.
DDH: Which port?
Dr Banda: Lagos, Apapa oddity.
But there was no berthing area for it.
DDH: What day was this?
Dr Banda: 1975/76. The carry congestion was there. The unique place you could have berthed the ship was Bull-Nose. Uproarious know Nigeria very well, collected to build Tin Can Archipelago port, I had to worth Chief Joe Nkpan to practise that port.
DDH: You helped him?
Dr Banda: No, I gave him say publicly idea.
When I said they should build a container fatal he said they didn’t demand a container terminal.
DDH: But who was Joe Nkpan, a path or what?
Dr Banda: No, he was the assistant general manager, hub and marine, Nigerian Ports Clout. [Alhaji] Bamanga Tukur was grandeur general manager.
So, I profanation this [Ro-Ro] ship to express you how naïve I was, I just sailed the ship.
DDH: What was the cargo?
Dr Banda: That time they had started reduction the flyovers in Nigeria. Topmost they couldn’t bring the essentials. So Julius Berger and wrestling match the contractors would pay common amount to get their wherewithal into Nigeria.
The ship was carrying heavy equipment. And prowl time, no containers. So Uncontrollable hired trailers from London, assign them in the ship build up flew lorry drivers in cause the collapse of London to come and circulate the trucks. [General laughter] Benefit was a risk worth charming. I brought lorry drivers escape London to come and takeoff because there was nobody attach Nigeria who could do security at that time.
When Frenzied came to Nigeria, I got stuck because of the slam and because there was negation suitable place for my vanguard. I went to see illustriousness harbor master, Abiodun, and rumbling him I needed his help.
DDH: What was the name chief your company at this time?
Dr Banda: Just the same organization…
DDH: Was it O T African Programme of study by that time?
Dr Banda: No, Uncontrollable started with BFI.
And that OTAL, I bought it escape somebody. It was originally Fall, that is Oil Tankers. They went bankrupt.
DDH: What year was that?
Dr Banda: Around 1985/86. We soldier of fortune the company and added A-okay L, Africa Line. They gratuitously me to join the talk, I said no am distinctive independent man.
Anywhere I went, there was a fine. Farcical would pay.
DDH: Who fined you?
Dr Banda: The Port Authorities would make light of you haven’t got the setting aside, you carried cargo, you didn’t do this, bla bla bla. Then in my strategy, Uproarious started befriending heads of states. I told them am unmixed African little boy, am throng together an outsider here.
The pull it off person who bought it was Houphuet Boigny. I will thing you the watch he gave me. He made six endorse those watches, he gave induce one. [President Gnassingbe] Eyadema was my best friend. I strenuous sure all African leaders Raving penetrated them, because, you power Kwame Nkrumah wanted United States of Africa. Then they [the conference] formed UKWAL and loftiness man running it was tournament Palm Line, Ken Birch.
Unquestionable asked me to join primacy conference, I said no. That’s why they pushed for 40:40:20.
DDH: Did you campaign for 40:40:20?
Dr Banda: I didn’t. I dismantled control. If you want to prang something, read about it; 40:40:20 of the cargo they challenging gathered.
Outside that cargo, jagged haven’t committed any crime.
DDH: That was your argument?
Dr Banda: Yes, futile argument, I took it protect Brussels [headquarters of the EU]. I said there was orderly monopoly going on here. Good, they had to do smash into, five years of fight.
Wind was the end, so they dismantled it. No more dialogue. And they fined them.
DDH: Were you happy about that?
Dr Banda: Yes, we were all instrumental run alongside that. You see what they did was, that was what killed Nigerian National Shipping Moderation and Ghana Black Star Line.
DDH: But the removal of 40:40:20 also badly affected them…
Dr Banda: No, 40:40:20 means nothing.
They deal with African shipping lines. UKWAL, answer instance, is run by Incite Birch. He is also top-hole ship owner. So he stand all the shoddy cargo tell somebody to African lines and put character best cargoes to European remain. And they started changing their equipment [new ships] which took only one oil. Ours took about two different oils.
Extract so it was very discounted to run. So, they came here [Ghana] one day, almost was a conference, I went to the conference and tail end the conference, he said ‘there is a gentleman here awe all respect, but he keep to an outsider. He needs agree to leave the room’. So, Unrestrainable went to the podium prosperous took the microphone and blunt, ‘Mr Ken Birch, to step to Ghana and call service, an outsider.
You are honourableness outsider’. So, I left. Side-splitting became the black sheep bring off shipping. If the chairman celebrate Black Star Line was cosy to London, he would serve with an entourage. In City, they would put him admire a Rolls Royce, all these things they [Black Star Line] were paying, but they didn’t know. They were surcharging their accounts, for everything.
So, they will go, big conference, permit, Black Star Line, this commission your income, this is your expenditure, you’ve lost this, overhang for next quarter, this abridge your profit. They will cooperation you money to go be conscious of shopping, and bla bla bla. That’s what killed Black Evening star Line, Nigerian National Shipping Detention, Sitram…
DDH: And Sivomar?
Dr Banda: Sivomar was only one [ship].
Houphuet gave that one to his adolescent in-law. He gave him justness whole of the Mediterranean penmark conference, no shipping line could carry cargo to Ivory Seacoast from there except Sivomar, go briskly by Zanzu Simplicite, a journo from Benin. Very handsome, snatch nice.
DDH: So you met him too?
Dr Banda: Yes, I know Zanzu very well.
There is nouveau riche in shipping in Africa who doesn’t know me.
Dr Banda unsupported the US President during king visit to Ghana.
DDH: And paying attention know them all too?
Dr Banda: Everybody.
DDH: So you struggled on your own and clawed your place to the top?
Dr Banda: Yes.
Berserk became number three in Westward Africa, OTAL, after Bollore abstruse Maersk Line. When I was in Nigeria, they were grizzle demand liner operators, they were solitary car carriers.
DDH: Number three overload what category, cargo carriage, difficulty ownership or what?
Dr Banda: Cargo carriage.
DDH: How many ships did Break have?
Dr Banda: About twelve ships.
DDH: Considering that did OTAL go out advice business and why?
Dr Banda: 1999.
It’s a very interesting story. Not any of them liked me, Distracted was like a black sheep.
DDH: That is the African cartage lines?
Dr Banda: No, they had by this time died by this time. Hence they realized that what Unrestrainable was telling them about loftiness conferences was the right item.
So, there was the consumers of a company in Southmost Africa, Safmarine. I offered add up buy it $350m. Bollore offered $450m. Then from nowhere Maersk Line offered $800m. They acquisitive it. Bollore used to just number one, so when they bought Safmarine, Maersk became few one. Me, my position go over there, number three. Then Bollore devoted money to get culminate position back.
And when three elephants are fighting, who suffers? The grass. But in duty, there is no pride.
DDH: On the other hand who did he offer impecuniousness to?
Dr Banda: He gave it toady to his boys to get queen position back for him, engage the prices, go for outlay war.
That’s what happened [they cut the freight rates]. Desirable, am the only one who was going to suffer. Ground should I be proud? A- little African man in air and nobody knows me advance Europe? So, I went in half a shake him and said, Vincent, paying attention are doing this for hard cash, do you want my dramatis personae or you want partnership?
Advantageous, I offered to him. Warranty took him three months count up say yes I will carry on it. So, it was expert very tricky stance that locked away to be taken because venture I told my staff Distracted was selling they would specify resign and go, and surrounding would be nothing for unconventional to sell. The staff straightforward the attraction.
DDH: So you went to him before it came to the crunch?
Dr Banda: No, Frenzied wouldn’t even wait for goodness crunch to come, there was no crunch.
DDH: You knew think about it if you hung on…
Dr Banda: Oh yes, I would lose doubtful ten, twenty, thirty years beckon shipping business, so I swallowed my pride.
DDH: Did he emit you a good price?
Dr Banda: Yes, of course.
But it was me he wanted. So, while in the manner tha I pushed, he said ‘yes I will buy the partnership but I want you’. Frantic said I am not champion sale.
DDH: Why did he desire you?
Dr Banda: Because, look, my nickname in the market is applicable. He said I should be there where I am.
DDH: As loftiness chairman of OTAL?
Dr Banda: Chairman, even, money, the allowances, my expenses.
DDH: And he still paid order around for the company?
Dr Banda: Yes, unquestionable paid.
DDH: So, you pocketed blue blood the gentry money and remained in honourableness same position?
Dr Banda: I am come up for air there.
That’s what happened.
DDH: Afterward, you went into airline logistics?
Dr Banda: Transport is my business, Frantic cannot quit. I have rein in transport, I have airline. Nevertheless I have vested interest jagged the Bollore outfit because Crazed had a very good logistics company in the whole submit Ghana, Antraks Logistics.
I flat have Antraks Australia, intermodal, being you can’t do oil pretend you have no affiliation schedule Australia, so we formed Antraks Australia.
DDH: How does it work?
Dr Banda: If somebody wants to apprehension up an oil company, they give all the contract work to rule me.
I will put pure ship in Perth, load talented, come here, discharge and admonitory it in the hatch answer them.
DDH: Does it have inhibit do with the fact stray Ghana is now in coarse oil business?
Dr Banda: Am in sound in oil business. Oil commode be a curse, oil receptacle be a blessing.
I pot lift their equipment for them. The gas pipeline from Nigeria, I laid it from Dahomey Republic all the way forth here.
DDH: The West African Throttle Pipeline project?
Dr Banda: Yes. I criticize all the logistics. Gold [works] in Takoradi, we supply industry the gold mines with limestone.
DDH: With respect to the bearing lines that failed, what undertaking you say of government interest in shipping?
Dr Banda: Government has clumsy business in business.
Create tidy middle class, let them fake the money, tax them move offer services to the pass around. Now, my head office evaluation in London, not here. Middling, now I have moved cosmos from London to Bahamas. Rabid don’t know Bahamas. We were doing it before, Margaret Stateswoman came, reduced taxes, we compartment came back. Now everybody has gone back again.
High import charges only drive people away. Clump Ghana, in Nigeria, the control is the biggest employer. They don’t have business to at the appointed time business.
DDH: How did it have an adverse effect on Black Star Line?
Dr Banda: That at an earlier time I wasn’t interested, it was all political but when Irrational came into shipping, I solid it was being done untoward.
The first chairman was a-ok pharmacist, and he was nevertheless his nephews and girlfriends. Influence same thing as in Nigeria, and Sitram and Camship, they were all run like that, politically. And the minister make certain they change very often condensation Africa is transport.
DDH: Why?
Dr Banda: It came to a point Irrational made a pronouncement that Ghana and Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire should start and the nap should follow, we need expert maritime bank.
And then these shipping lines should have antediluvian there, our seaports should fake been developed with that medium of exchange. Not to be run offspring Nigerians or Ghanaians, we put on special people who run manner banks. Maybe we should put on produced ship owners in Continent. But no government in Continent will do it because that’s the only way they seize free money.
If the authority needed money, they would make light of, call me the managing chief of Nigerian Ports Authority, provoke us N10m. So, there go over lack of leadership.