GUTA Protests Foreign Retail Trade

Members of the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA) have closed their shops across the country to protest against the government for failing to enforce laws which prohibit retail trade by foreign nationals in the Ghanaian markets.

 The traders have resorted to this action after failed attempts by government to oust the foreign retail traders from the markets.

 The traders say the government has not responded to their petition for the foreign retailers to quit their operations and expressed disappointment in the government‘s failure to ward off the foreigners from the market GUTA has sought to enforce Act 478 of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) which disallows foreigners from hawking, petty trading and engaging in other market activities.

 Ahead of the protest the President of GUTA, George Kweku Ofori, said: “We think that is the best option. We are going to close all retail shops all over and we are expecting that members will come in their numbers to show their solidarity.”

 He gave the line-up for a demonstration saying the group will walk from Circle to converge at the Rawlings Park. GUTA in the first half of this year instigated the formation of an Inter-Agency Taskforce backed by the Trade Ministry, but its efforts at enforcing the law through the permanent closure of shops owned in this case by the foreign nationals came to nought.

 Despite the legal provision, which also requires foreigners interested in trading ventures to invest a minimum of GH₵ 300,000 and yet establish their businesses anywhere in the country but market places, they – the foreigners, mostly from neighbouring counties and Asia – abound in small shops and stores in Accra’s busy markets and those of other regional capitals.

 Dealing with this has remained till now a formidable challenge for GUTA’s leaders and members, hence, the protest on Thursday, November 8, to solicit the attention of the government.

 Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw