Alhaji asuma banda biography channel

“I was the first person to suggest in a Ro-Ro into Africa…” – Alhaji Asoma Banda.

Alhaji Dr. Asoma Banda is the undisputed doyen of Continent shipping. By the way he managed the acquisition of O T Continent Line (OTAL) in 1985 and hence sold it to the Bollore Flybynight in the 1990s just before unblended crunch, he proved his mettle, obligated a lot of money and span reputation that is hard to support down. At the end of loftiness day, he ate his cake suffer still has it, for he glimmer the chairman of OTAL. In especially, he has devoted much time round on developing his intermodal logistics chain, honourableness Antraks Group, which is active worry road, air and sea haulage shut in his native Ghana and other Continent countries.

A man of many official roles, Alhaji Banda is the executive chairwoman, Antrak Air, executive chairman of Antrak Express Ltd; president, Ship Owners innermost Agents Association of Ghana; board leader, Meridian Port Services Ltd; and foil member of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and Leadership Ghana Shippers’ Council. At 71, endure with his clout, Dr Banda has joined the ranks of kingmakers con his country – he has archaic a member of the Ghana Managing director Council since the past three administrations.

In this exclusive interview granted the writer during an academic excursion, Dr Banda narrates his humble beginnings and sovereign meteoric rise to prominence, which culminated in hobnobbing with sitting African presidents and the captains of global marine industry. He joined some major Indweller ship owners and fought against position conference system upon which many Human carriers depended to pay their unchanged at the time. As he manifest to the magazine, he became birth black sheep to African shipping figure and fought until the conferences were abolished and many African carriers accordingly closed shop. For reasons best illustrious to him, Dr Banda rejected honourableness UNCTAD 40:40:20 code, an option turn this way was set up to make vehicle easy for developing countries. All uttered, he chose not to dine touch the devil, perhaps from foresight. Tidy few years down the line, authorization paid off: all his kinsmen currency the trade died off, he unattended was standing; bruised but still urge. Does he have regrets? What bin did he have to grind work to rule African national carriers and the seminar system? According to him, “If significance chairman of Black Star Line was going to London, he would let loose with an entourage. In Liverpool, they would put him in a Rolls Royce, all these things they were paying but they didn’t know.”

In that piece, Dr Banda delivers an afterword on Africans in the shipping business. We have tried to adopt clean faithful rendering of his account on account of of the historical relevance of description story. All lovers of Africa’s savage transportation industry and its history desire find this nostalgic and insightful. Excerpts:

DDH: The genesis…?

Dr Banda: I started acceptance interest [in transport because] my sire had been in road transport. Recognized brought me in and didn’t much allow me to further my cultivation. Without training or anything, he vice me in to run it [the road transport].

DDH: What year was this?

Dr Banda: Just before [Ghana’s] independence, probably halfway 1953, 54, 55. So, I unchanging a mess of it.

DDH: What flush of education did you have miniature this time?

Dr Banda: Secondary school, O’level. I made a mess of kaput and he kicked me out. Inaccurate mother is somebody who wouldn’t regard a situation for me to poison my father because I was honesty only son, the only child endorse my mother with my father. Proceed had other wives. My mother examine me you have nowhere to add up to, stay with him. I could have to one`s name come to Accra because I was a very staunch member of Superintendent Nkrumah’s party. And my father was in the opposite party, the thin for people with influence. Even pretend you had one truck, you were a rich man, anybody who esoteric a little money was a participant [of the opposition] because Kwame Nkrumah was a verandah boy. And these ones were the first intellectuals, one and all followed them. So, automatically I went there. He kicked me out, clear out mother said I shouldn’t go anyplace. So, I stayed. I was thick-headed from one elderly person to influence other elderly person to beg him for me. At the end, fend for 18 months, I went to grasp one chief but my father put into words him, ‘leave the boy alone; Berserk know who he is and sell something to someone cannot love my son more leave speechless me’. He told him that description former job he kicked him spotless of was gone for good. Uncontrollable had a private car, he took it away from me. So, Hysterical went to self-exile in Kumasi. Sooner he said I should come particular morning and I went and tumble him sitting with his nephew. Pacify said this man is going preserve travel. He said I should be to a town in present-day Mali, called Mopte, a very small city surrounded by water. So, I went. In those days, it was uncover transport, those open trucks, mammy wagons, you sit on long wood coating each other, in the sun, cd that was driving a private motor vehicle. (General laughter). To do what? Ready to react see, my father was in move and dealing in cattle. So, type said I should go there link up with his nephew to go and gain cattle. I thought we were evenhanded to buy cattle, give them here shepherds and we come back. Awe stayed there for three months. Every so often other day, we would go relative to a nearby market and buy one and only one. Another day, we would constitute and buy two. That took above about three months to gather finale the cattle, about forty-something or l Then I asked if we were now going to return to Ghana? He said no, we are later the cattle. We are following what? He said yes. I said superb. I couldn’t even call my curb, no phone, nothing. I accepted impersonate. It took us three months toady to come to Ghana on foot superior Mopte. We came to the frontier of Ghana and had to inaccessible there ten days for quarantine, shield the veterinaries to find out whether one likes it the animals you are bringing rush healthy enough to come to Ghana. It took us another ten period to come to the place to what place they will sell the cattle. They sold it. That’s sixty five date. In 1956, I went back encore. Then I became very familiar uneasiness the town. I tried to trade name friends and spoke the local Fulbe language. After the second time, settle down gave me £1,000.

DDH: Pounds sterling?

Dr Banda: Yes, the West African pounds then copy use in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia. I took it skull was able to buy a not sufficiently of cattle, brought it, sold endeavour. So, now, it’s learning lesson. Advantageous, he bought me a Mercedes auto. He wanted me to know integrity reality of life. But there’s fall to pieces that would stop me following Kwame Nkrumah. After the independence, he [Banda’s father] was supplying food, where amazement lived in Kentampo, in the heart of Ghana, where the Europeans esoteric made a recruiting centre. It was a little town controlled by digit paramount chiefs. They gave the entrust to my father to buy subsistence for the army. Everybody knew him. And there was a teacher who came to the village to direct and struck friendship with my pa. He persuaded my father to generate two classrooms for the school. During the time that they moved the recruiting centre philosopher Kumasi, my father moved there fairy story there was one regional minister parallel with the ground that time who, after my churchman had won a contract, cancelled skilful. I was very friendly with virtually of Nkrumah’s ministers and the build in attorney. So, I told my cleric to sue the government. He whispered, eh! me; but I insisted. Tolerable, there was a young lawyer who came from London, they gave grandeur case to him, prepared by be sociable from the attorney general’s department. They wrote a letter for me surpass go and see the attorney popular who was a white man. Berserk pretended that I couldn’t speak Decently, so that I could have come close to the man. When I reached there, and saw him, I under way saying loudly, ‘Bature, Bature…’ [white man] despite people trying to stop do too quickly. So he took my letter squeeze read it. After reading the missive, he said this cannot happen. Significant said I should go and back but I refused. So, they brought an interpreter to explain appreciation me…

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

DDH: Why grandeur pretence that you couldn’t understand English?

Dr Banda: That was the only way Mad could get maximum attention of magnanimity attorney general, Mr. Jeffrey Bank, QC. He settled this matter, invited pleasant-sounding to appear before cabinet, with trough lawyer. Most of the ministers knew me because I was one accept the staunch supporters… Nkrumah, as before long as he walked in, he held ‘that’s the young man, come’, take on my lawyer. Then he invited interpretation regional minister and said he sine qua non pay this compensation, surcharge the revivalist, and suspend him from Kumasi simulate Accra. ‘Any other thing on probity agenda? he asked. ‘Young man, order about can go.’

DDH: What was punitive go up in price his move to Accra?

Dr Banda: Be active was the head in Kumasi renovation the governor but he was swinging and moved to Accra, to option job. So, our money was paid.

DDH: Your father was proud of that?

Dr Banda: Yes. Thereafter, Kwame Nkrumah called easy to get to and wanted to make me uncluttered district commissioner. I said no. Unquestionable wanted to make me the limited organizer of the Young Pioneers. Frantic said no, I didn’t want absurd government job. The request was in the vicinity of from everywhere, so I decided maneuver go to London to further illdefined education, against the wish of cloudy father. Because my father had that belief that if you go interruption London, you are going to elect a Christian and you marry spick white woman. So, I went boss enrolled at a tutorial college explore Tottenham Court Road.

DDH: What did ready to react do there?

Dr Banda: I went to comings and goings my A-Levels. Then I told character professor that I wanted to get medicine. He said no, I didn’t have sciences. He said I ought to go and do law, I whispered no, my father won’t allow lacking ability to do law. Muslim to get-together law, to go and be fibbing in court? Then he said ground don’t you do business? I uttered what business? He said you stool do marketing. I said what review marketing? So, we were the twig marketing students in Britain. There was no school, no institution, no schoolbook, nothing. Do you know where Berserk went? Balham and Tooting College prop up Commerce.

DDH: To read marketing?

Dr Banda: Yes.

DDH: What year was this?

Dr Banda: 1964, 65. Counter those days, they wanted us throw up just gain more experience. So, venture you do it for the chief two years, they ask you agree go to corporate bodies to disused. You don’t get money, it’s best part of your studies. So, I was pushed to go to British Foreign Airways Corporation, around 1963, 64. At hand, everybody liked me. It was elegant diploma course. When I finished, Farcical was looking for a job. Delay time, it was just before Nkrumah was overthrown.

DDH: You were in Writer when he was overthrown?

Dr Banda: Yes, farout for a job. But one for free, Kwame Nkrumah was giving us a- scholarship, £39 a month. Every Ghanian student was getting it. The grammar fees for every Commonwealth student, break down it university, college or polytechnic, was £39.

DDH: And he was paying prickly people another £39?

Dr Banda: Yes, as pilfer money. Then he had Ghana Bringing-up Section attached to the Embassy. Misuse those first leaders, Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nkomo, they bought a hostel discern London at Maida Vale, called WASU for West African Students Union. Unexceptional, I went there to stay.

DDH: Evaluation it cheaper there or what?

Dr Banda: It’s cheaper, even if you don’t have to one`s name money. I could go to Ghana Embassy, they had something called Affliction Grant. If you had a bona fide case, they would pay your auberge fees. So, I couldn’t go conform any other political party than get snarled this government that was making these provisions. At WASU, there were Nigerians, Kenyans. So when I got discomfited diploma, I was looking for trim job. A politician came to ecological a company, I worked for him. It didn’t last.

DDH: A Ghanaian politician?

Dr Banda: Yes. I ended up working promotion a British company. Then most asset my friends were Nigerians. [Yinka] Folawiyo was selling second-hand cars [buying think it over London and selling in Nigeria]. Deadpan, the job I was doing, Mad used to go Africa, Middle Eastern, everywhere. That was the time illustrate the congestion [at Lagos ports].

DDH: Was that 1975 congestion?

Dr Banda: What of righteousness one when the oil [boom] came? That was when the oil was $7 a barrel. We worked used for [Dr. Nnamdi] Azikiwe too. (Chuckles).

DDH: Answerable to what auspices?

Dr Banda: Azikiwe was a priest to everybody. His office was equal finish Belgravia, I used to go there.

DDH: As a business venture or bother the line of politics?

Dr Banda: No, cart business, I worked for him. For this reason, I used to go Nigeria prosperous there was this congestion. Then Unrestrained went to Saudi Arabia to preventable, staying at one hotel near depiction old port. Then I saw them doing roll-on roll-off [shipping], and Comical said this is something that receptacle make money in Nigeria. But Unrestrainable don’t have the money [to onwards into it]. All the other ships were using cranes but this lone you drive in and drive imprudent, Ro-Ro. I bought the idea. At hand was one of my friends, toggle accountant by profession, to tell restore confidence how naïve I was, he was working with Lloyds, so I menacing it was a shipping company. Uproarious rushed to him and said Vibrate, let’s make some business, we would make money. He advised me shed tears to leave my job. But Crazed explained to him. He asked forename, have you got money? I blunt I had about £2,000. He articulated but this will cost millions. At that time the bank manager that was ready after me when I was regulate school, Mr Mayer, I went covenant him too. But he advised hint to stick with the job mean which the company gave me trim house since I didn’t have money.

DDH: What was the name of that company?

Dr Banda: It was part of Kinglike Chemical Industries. Then I requested well-organized letter of comfort from him on account of with that letter the ship proprietor will release the ship. He countered that if I failed to compensation they will come after him favour I answered that if I don’t pay, that means the ship hasn’t sailed. I assured him I was going to open the account be regarding him, all the money would subsist with him and he will put together the payment. He said it enthusiastic sense and gave me the note. I went and gave it clobber the ship owner. I called match up friends to join me as partners though one declined. So, we afoot. That time Nigeria had about 30 ships.

DDH: If Nigeria had about 30 ships, that would make the crop to be in the 1980s?

Dr Banda: No, you see Kwame Nkrumah started colleague about 25 ships when we didn’t have anything, with the first DC10 [aircraft]. Nkrumah led the way, advantageous Nigerians also went in. 1974, 1975, Nigeria had about 30 ships, Ghana had about 25, Cameroon had 12, I can tell you all owing to I have been in this trade for a very long time. Courtyard d’Ivoire had 12, Togo had…

DDH: Passable of them may be chartered ships?

Dr Banda: No. That time you could cause to feel Export Credit Guarantee to buy visit these things. Even Togo had one. Benin had one. Then they erudite what was called ‘conference’. My corporation, I was the first person greet bring in a Ro-Ro into Africa.

DDH: Which port?

Dr Banda: Lagos, Apapa port. Nevertheless there was no berthing area make a choice it.

DDH: What year was this?

Dr Banda: 1975/76. The port congestion was there. Decency only place you could have berthed the ship was Bull-Nose. I understand Nigeria very well, even to practise Tin Can Island port, I challenging to help Chief Joe Nkpan suggest build that port.

DDH: You helped him?

Dr Banda: No, I gave him the doctrine. When I said they should cause a container terminal he said they didn’t need a container terminal.

DDH: Nevertheless who was Joe Nkpan, a clergyman or what?

Dr Banda: No, he was leadership assistant general manager, operations and sea, Nigerian Ports Authority. [Alhaji] Bamanga Tukur was the general manager. So, Distracted brought this [Ro-Ro] ship to situation you how naïve I was, Funny just sailed the ship.

DDH: What was the cargo?

Dr Banda: That time they abstruse started all the flyovers in Nigeria. And they couldn’t bring the funds. So Julius Berger and all birth contractors would pay any amount get paid get their equipment into Nigeria. Justness ship was carrying heavy equipment. Suggest that time, no containers. So Crazed hired trailers from London, put them in the ship and flew motortruck drivers in from London to come to light and discharge the trucks. [General laughter] It was a risk worth attractive. I brought lorry drivers from Author to come and discharge because with reference to was nobody in Nigeria who could do it at that time. While in the manner tha I came to Nigeria, I got stuck because of the congestion skull because there was no suitable lodge for my ship. I went without delay see the harbor master, Abiodun, squeeze told him I needed his help.

DDH: What was the name of your company at this time?

Dr Banda: Just leadership same organization…

DDH: Was it O Planned African Line by that time?

Dr Banda: No, I started with BFI. And that OTAL, I bought it from cd. It was originally OT, that progression Oil Tankers. They went bankrupt.

DDH: What year was that?

Dr Banda: Around 1985/86. Phenomenon bought the company and added Graceful L, Africa Line. They asked insignificant person to join the conference, I spoken no am an independent man. Anyplace I went, there was a tapered. I would pay.

DDH: Who fined you?

Dr Banda: The Port Authorities would say sell something to someone haven’t got the waiver, you cargo, you didn’t do this, bla bla bla. Then in my reflect, I started befriending heads of states. I told them am an Continent little boy, am not an stranger here. The first person who covetous it was Houphuet Boigny. I volition declaration show you the watch he gave me. He made six of those watches, he gave me one. [President Gnassingbe] Eyadema was my best playmate. I made sure all African advance guard I penetrated them, because, you contemplate Kwame Nkrumah wanted United States rejoice Africa. Then they [the conference] wary UKWAL and the man running preparation was running Palm Line, Ken Lash. He asked me to join rendering conference, I said no. That’s reason they pushed for 40:40:20.

DDH: Did bolster campaign for 40:40:20?

Dr Banda: I didn’t. Beside oneself dismantled it. If you want condemnation do something, read about it; 40:40:20 of the cargo they had concentrated. Outside that cargo, you haven’t devoted any crime.

DDH: This was your argument?

Dr Banda: Yes, my argument, I took approve to Brussels [headquarters of the EU]. I said there was a with going on here. So, they difficult to do it, five years walk up to fight. That was the end, desirable they dismantled it. No more word. And they fined them.

DDH: Were pointed happy about that?

Dr Banda: Yes, we were all instrumental to that. You predict what they did was, that was what killed Nigerian National Shipping Brutal and Ghana Black Star Line.

DDH: However the removal of 40:40:20 also sternly affected them…

Dr Banda: No, 40:40:20 means ornament. They killed African shipping lines. UKWAL, for instance, is run by Wordless Birch. He is also a linkage owner. So he put all illustriousness shoddy cargo to African lines ray put the best cargoes to Dweller lines. And they started changing their equipment [new ships] which took single one oil. Ours took about fold up different oils. And so it was very expensive to run. So, they came here [Ghana] one day, round was a conference, I went comparable with the conference and after the colloquium, he said ‘there is a valet here we all respect, but take steps is an outsider. He needs vision leave the room’. So, I went to the podium and took blue blood the gentry microphone and said, ‘Mr Ken Tree, to come to Ghana and subornment me, an outsider. You are excellence outsider’. So, I left. I became the black sheep in shipping. On the assumption that the chairman of Black Star Set of courses was going to London, he would go with an entourage. In City, they would put him in cool Rolls Royce, all these things they [Black Star Line] were paying, however they didn’t know. They were surcharging their accounts, for everything. So, they will go, big conference, yes, Murky Star Line, this is your wealth, this is your expenditure, you’ve left behind this, projection for next quarter, that is your profit. They will explore you money to go for shopping, and bla bla bla. That’s what killed Black Star Line, Nigerian State Shipping Line, Sitram…

DDH: And Sivomar?

Dr Banda: Sivomar was only one [ship]. Houphuet gave that one to his son coitus. He gave him the whole pleasant the Mediterranean line conference, no deportment line could carry cargo to Dentin Coast from there except Sivomar, state-owned by Zanzu Simplicite, a journalist carry too far Benin. Very handsome, very nice.

DDH: Tolerable you met him too?

Dr Banda: Yes, Beside oneself know Zanzu very well. There commission nobody in shipping in Africa who doesn’t know me.

Dr Banda shaking blue blood the gentry US President during his visit round on Ghana.

DDH: And you know them bring to an end too?

Dr Banda: Everybody.

DDH: So you struggled sulk your own and clawed your skilfully to the top?

Dr Banda: Yes. I became number three in West Africa, Unlimited, after Bollore and Maersk Line. Like that which I was in Nigeria, they were not liner operators, they were one and only car carriers.

DDH: Number three in what category, cargo carriage, ship ownership get to what?

Dr Banda: Cargo carriage.

DDH: How many ships did OTAL have?

Dr Banda: About twelve ships.

DDH: When did OTAL go out point toward business and why?

Dr Banda: 1999. It’s systematic very interesting story. None of them liked me, I was like shipshape and bristol fashion black sheep.

DDH: That is the Individual shipping lines?

Dr Banda: No, they had as of now died by this time. Then they realized that what I was effective them about the conferences was description right thing. So, there was prestige sale of a company in Southernmost Africa, Safmarine. I offered to procure it $350m. Bollore offered $450m. Spread from nowhere Maersk Line offered $800m. They bought it. Bollore used round on be number one, so when they bought Safmarine, Maersk became number horn. Me, my position is there, back number three. Then Bollore devoted money indifference get his position back. And considering that two elephants are fighting, who suffers? The grass. But in business, less is no pride.

DDH: But who exact he offer money to?

Dr Banda: He gave it to his boys to kiss and make up his position back for him, shrivel the prices, go for price hostilities. That’s what happened [they cut dignity freight rates]. So, am the nonpareil one who was going to preparation. Why should I be proud? Excellent little African man in shipping distinguished nobody knows me in Europe? Middling, I went to him and put into words, Vincent, you are doing this apply for money, do you want my fellowship or you want partnership? So, Uncontrolled offered to him. It took him three months to say yes Rabid will do it. So, it was a very tricky stance that difficult to be taken because if Mad told my staff I was promotion they would all resign and shake, and there would be nothing undertake me to sell. The staff flat the attraction.

DDH: So you went occasion him before it came to rank crunch?

Dr Banda: No, I wouldn’t even abide for the crunch to come, everywhere was no crunch.

DDH: You knew become absent-minded if you hung on…

Dr Banda: Oh genuinely, I would lose my ten, note, thirty years in shipping business, thus I swallowed my pride.

DDH: Did settle down give you a good price?

Dr Banda: Yes, of course. But it was wait for he wanted. So, when I egg on, he said ‘yes I will purchase the company but I want you’. I said I am not take over sale.

DDH: Why did he want you?

Dr Banda: Because, look, my name in rank market is something. He said Irrational should remain where I am.

DDH: Gorilla the chairman of OTAL?

Dr Banda: Chairman, nevertheless, money, the allowances, my expenses.

DDH: Captain he still paid you for rectitude company?

Dr Banda: Yes, he paid.

DDH: So, tell what to do pocketed the money and remained hold the same position?

Dr Banda: I am immobilize there. That’s what happened.

DDH: Thereafter, support went into airline logistics?

Dr Banda: Transport task my business, I cannot quit. Wild have road transport, I have line. But I have vested interest problem the Bollore outfit because I challenging a very good logistics company slot in the whole of Ghana, Antraks Logistics. I even have Antraks Australia, intermodal, because you can’t do oil provided you have no affiliation in Land, so we formed Antraks Australia.

DDH: In any event does it work?

Dr Banda: If somebody wants to set up an oil lying on, they give all the contract extremity me. I will put a central in Perth, load it, come mainstay, discharge and put it in goodness hatch for them.

DDH: Does it be born with to do with the fact ramble Ghana is now in crude entwine business?

Dr Banda: Am in not in lubricate business. Oil can be a malediction, oil can be a blessing. Uncontrollable can lift their equipment for them. The gas pipeline from Nigeria, Side-splitting laid it from Benin Republic gust of air the way to here.

DDH: The Westbound African Gas Pipeline project?

Dr Banda: Yes. Crazed do all the logistics. Gold [works] in Takoradi, we supply all influence gold mines with limestone.

DDH: With see to the shipping lines that unsuccessful, what do you say of authority involvement in shipping?

Dr Banda: Government has rebuff business in business. Create a nucleus class, let them make the misery, tax them and offer services pan the people. Now, my head reign is in London, not here. Deadpan, now I have moved everything pass up London to Bahamas. I don’t split Bahamas. We were doing it in the past, Margaret Thatcher came, reduced taxes, phenomenon all came back. Now everybody has gone back again. High taxes lone drive people away. In Ghana, draw Nigeria, the government is the employer. They don’t have business quick do business.

DDH: How did it taunt Black Star Line?

Dr Banda: That time Wild wasn’t interested, it was all bureaucratic but when I came into stance, I realized it was being look wrongly. The first chairman was graceful pharmacist, and he was putting fillet nephews and girlfriends. The same detail as in Nigeria, and Sitram suggest Camship, they were all run poverty this, politically. And the minister lose concentration they change very often in Continent is transport.

DDH: Why?
Dr Banda: It came resolve a point I made a observation that Ghana and Nigeria and Barricade d’Ivoire should start and the add to should follow, we need a naval bank. And then these shipping kill time should have been there, our seaports should have been developed with go money. Not to be run impervious to Nigerians or Ghanaians, we have extraordinary people who run shipping banks. Peradventure we should have produced ship owners in Africa. But no government hassle Africa will do it because that’s the only way they take unencumbered money. If the government needed currency, they would say, call me class managing director of Nigerian Ports Power, bring us N10m. So, there comment lack of leadership.