Members of the Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA), on Monday expressed disappointment about public officials, who are conniving with foreign traders to cause financial loss to the state.

A statement issued by Yaw Korang, Coordinator of SSRIDA in Accra said, he is privy to a directive by Mr Haruna Iddrisu, out- going Minister of Trade and Industry for measures to boost the business of members of the Association.

He said the ban on inland importation of rice, had adversely affected members of SSRIDA and their interaction with the Trade Ministry shows that Mr Iddrisu is responsive to their concerns. He said there was a memo dated July 2 to meet SSRIDA members, but they had the message on July 4 to meet the trade officials on July 7.

Mr Korang said the directive to meet the demands of SSRIDA was issued on July 17, “but up to now the schedule officer to work on the directive has not done so”.

“This tends to confirm the perception of members that some officials of the Ministry are not in favour of the business of small scale rice importers and are rather interested to boost the operations of foreign traders.

“SSRIDA is calling on the Trade Ministry to fish out this unpatriotic Ghanaians who prefer promoting foreign interests at the expense of hard working and tax paying Ghanaians who are being frustrated for going about their legitimate businesses.