Côte d’Ivoire / Health: Ban on alcoholic energy drinks, or a pretext to keep out the competition?
The official ban on alcoholic energy drinks in Côte d’Ivoire, which was introduced under the guise of protecting the health of young people, actually masks far darker motivations.
Recent investigations reveal that this decision resulted from corruption orchestrated by a competing foreign company aiming to eliminate rivals in an already saturated market.
This corrupt practice is deeply reprehensible and threatens the integrity of Ivorian institutions.
By manipulating high-ranking officials, the implicated company not only distorted competition but also undermined public trust in the regulatory system.
Such actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and fairness that should underpin governmental decisions.
A free market relies on the ability of companies to compete honestly and fairly, based on the quality of their products and services.
When companies resort to corruption to eliminate competitors, they disrupt this balance and create an uneven economic environment.
This discourages innovation and competitiveness, ultimately harming consumers who are deprived of a diverse and potentially superior range of products.
Furthermore, this corruption scandal could have damaging repercussions on Ivorian society.
By favoring a company through illegitimate means, authorities compromise the public health they purported to protect.
Consumers lose access to a broader selection of market products, and genuine efforts to reduce alcohol abuse are undermined.
It is imperative that strict measures be taken to combat this form of corruption. Those responsible must be identified and sanctioned, and more rigorous monitoring mechanisms must be established to prevent future abuses.
Transparency in decision-making processes is essential to restore public trust and ensure that decisions genuinely serve the public interest, not corrupt private interests.
Souley Sanoussi
