Yet another African scam exposed. Occasionally I wonder if these African had put their minds into doing something more productive, maybe Africa may have chance for further development. You see, their people are able to trick supposedly developed countries’ citizens for their life savings or some savings using ruses which a small kid would see through.

You get paid more than RM10,000 for a job which is basically agricultural in nature. Beside the bosses, I have yet to see any agricultural job in any part of the world paying that much. Afterall, wouldn’t the African have more strength than Asians? Rather interesting right?

Read more about it here.

WANT to be paid up to US$2,000 ($3,090) a month as a farmer? How about US$4,000 as an administrative worker in Ghana, West Africa?

Global Farms Limited in Ghana had advertised these positions on Jobstreet.com, a recruitment website here.

Yes, the company is allegedly offering to pay that much in a country where the domestic economy revolves largely around subsistence agriculture.

Ghana has a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $3,860, the same as Cambodia’s. Singapore’s is $42,852. So can the jobs be for real? 

50 SINGAPOREANS
The New Paper called Ghana and spoke to the man who signed himself off as the CEO of the company.

Mr Osei Kwame insisted the jobs were for real and that 50 Singaporeans were already working for him.

Can we speak to them, we asked. Mr Kwame apologised, saying the men were all out in the fields. He said it’s not easy to land the jobs because hundreds apply for limited positions. (See report at top of facing page.)

But when this reporter posed as a job seeker, Global Farms Limited offered the job after one e-mail interview. What’s the catch?

Job-seekers have to transfer US$1,000 to the company before their travel documents can be processed. Global Farms Limited made no mention of that in the advertisements.

Ghana has an embassy in Tokyo and an official told The New Paper a three-year work permit and residence permit would cost only US$300. The company claims to deal in agriculture, dairy products, fishing and forestry. It’s looking to recruit 525 workers to fill a number of positions, ranging from farmers to assistant managers.

The advertisement was placed by the company’s CEO on Jobstreet.com on 27 Oct. It included the company’s mailbox address and phone number. (See report at bottom of facing page.) Two days later, Mr Thanakajan, 34, a permanent resident here for five years, saw it and became excited.

He has a diploma in mechatronics engineering from Temasek Polytechnic but now runs an Indian restaurant with a partner.

Said Mr Kajan: ‘Even though I am a half-owner of the restaurant, I wanted to find something more fulfilling. When I chanced upon the ad, I thought it was a dream come true.’ He declined to reveal how much he earns now.

HIRED
Mr Kajan said he sent his resume by e-mail to Mr Kwame on 29 Oct and received a reply the next day to say he had been hired.

As a senior production supervisor for three years, Mr Kajan was to receive a monthly salary of US$4,000 (over $6,000).

The next day, Mr Kajan called Mr Kwame in Ghana to verify that there really was such a person and they spoke for about five minutes.

Mr Kajan said: ‘He said I was hired based on my resume. I was very happy that I had got the job.’

But Mr Kajan’s older brother, who wanted to known only as Mr Sega, was cautious and warned him that he was being taken for a ride.

On 2 Nov, Mr Kwame e-mailed Mr Kajan, asking him to remit US$1,000 to his address in Ghana ‘as commitment’. 

VISA
Only after receiving the money would the company process the documents and send the visa and air ticket to the employee.

Mr Kajan sent a reply to Mr Kwame soon after, requesting a scanned copy of the visa.

He wanted to verify if Mr Kwame had indeed processed his visa and work application with the Ghana Immigration Department.

Mr Kwame replied, attaching a certificate of registration. He said his company would send Mr Kajan’s visa, work permit and one-way air ticket by courier upon receipt of the US$1,000.

Mr Kajan asked if he could remit half that amount instead and have the balance deducted from his salary.

Mr Kwame agreed and told Mr Kajan to send the money by a remittance company.

But Mr Kajan decided to stop all correspondence with Mr Kwame. He did not send any money.

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Tags: African scam, Global Farms Limited, Jobstreet, Jobstreet.com, Singapore