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The Ghana Union of Traders Association, GUTA, at Kasao in the Central region has warned it would shut down shops of foreigners, especially Nigerians, involved in retail business in the area.
The group cited the inimical impact of foreigners engaged in retail business on local sellers as the rationale for the threat.
According to the General Secretary of GUTA at Kasoa, Bright Agyemang, in his interaction with journalists expressed worry over the government’s inability to enforce the laws on foreign businesses in Ghana.
In a report by local medium, Ghanaweb, he said members of the association are furious and becoming impatient towards the continuous invasion of foreigners in the retail business.
He beckoned on the government to address the issue to avoid it from degenerating.
He said: “The foreigners have taken over our market that is why GUTA is complaining. They have taken over all across the country but as it is now, Kasoa is the strongest area for these foreigners.
“So, we are praying to the government to come to our aid.
“The law says a foreigner cannot do retail except Ghanaians but the foreigners are doing retail in our markets and so we will close their shops. We will use the law; we will enforce the law to close their shops.”
For years, GUTA and some foreign nationals, especially Nigerians, have been at war over retail trade in the country. Last year, members of GUTA forcibly locked up some foreign-owned shops in Greater Accra and Kumasi in the Ashanti region.
The trade war led to a high-powered delegation flying from Nigeria to Ghana to meet parliament over the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) law that prevents foreigners from engaging in the retail business.
Speaking on the development, the National President of Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG), Chukwuemeka Nnaji, said, “The ECOWAS protocol gives all citizens of member states equal rights to do business, reside and establish a business in each member state.”
This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.