A survey conducted by the Ghana Cooperative Susu Collectors Association in November 2007 shows that out of the 4,050 susu collectors in existence only 1,350 are members of an identifiable group. The membership of the Association is therefore calling for a legal framework, that will clear the industry of charlatans especially in the susu collection business. This advocacy action, with the support of the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund, seeks to institutionalize recognised regulatory structures and control mechanisms that will formally regulate and supervise the activities of susu collectors and their entire environment. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Felix Quansar, CEO of Premier Resource Consulting, a consultant for GCSCA, said the rationale of the advocacy action includes, seeking to achieve effective integration of well define code of conduct that promotes ethical and responsible practices for all susu operations in the country. He pointed out that this will also improve the conditions protecting parties to financial transactions by reviewing and updating market rules. "The objective of the advocacy action amongst other things is to achieve formal recognition by Government as a none bank financial institution in Ghana," he observed. Mr Quansar explained that the advocacy action is to end with a proposal to Government on the operational definition of susu, requirement for susu collectors, customers and requirement for protection of transaction parties or the membership reserve fund. Susu collectors in Ghana provide unique informal financial services to especially the informal sector operators for small commission. It offers an informal means for Ghanaians to save and access their own savings, and in addition, gain access to small credit without any collateral. However, according to Elvis Aboagye-Mensah, National President of the GCSCA, in a sector were anyone could take a bag, get onto the market and begins collecting susu without any guidelines, there would be a lot of fraudsters. He said unscrupulous and dishonest susu collectors end up bolting with clients savings and deposits, creating a mess and tarnishing the image of the trusted ones under the Association's umbrella. He cited instances of susu scams at Sunyani, Takoradi and Accra to buttress his point. He said as at December 2007 the Association has a client base of 301,237 throughout the country, and was able to mobilized an amounts of GH¢38,538,398.04 into the banking institutions during 2007. Another threat he noted that faces the GCSCA are regular financial institutions, such as banks, saving and loans companies and NGOs, who are attempting to offer susu related products to their clients in direct competition with the members of the GCSCA. He said in addition to these challenges, some stationary business enterprises, such as communication centers and barbering saloons that are also operating susu business. Mr Aboagye-Mensah said in order to protect savings of clients all registered members of the GCSCA have been given operational attire with the Associations name embossed at the back of a green and yellow uniform. He said the GCSCA is pursuing an aggressive marketing strategy to recruit 90% of the 4,050 susu collectors in the country as members of the Association so that they can be regulated as stipulated in the GCSCA strategic plan. In addition to this members in the Greater Accra Region are operating a monthly susu family trail contribution of GH¢20.00 per collector per month. He explained that the susu family trial contribution started in 2006 with the current total contribution being GH¢7,000.00, which has been invested in the M-Fund of the Data Bank. He said the susu family trial is to be replicated in other regions. Source: The Statesman