There is no end in sight to the closure of shops owned by foreigners in Ghana, even a month after. The Nigeria Union Traders Association of Ghana (NUTAG) is, in light of that, asking the Ghanaian Government to come clear on its plans concerning the closure of shops operated by its members.
The association is worried about the situation it claimed had brought untoward hardships on NUTAG members.
Read also:Over 600 Nigerian shops at Circle locked up again by GUTA
“We do not have much to say about this other than opening the shops. It is like Ghanaians are disallowing Nigerians to trade. They should be bold enough. They are speaking in parables. They should come out and say that for the next month, we do not need Nigerians to trade but not use the word foreigners because that is deceptive. We know Togoleses, Burkinabes and Nigeriens who are doing business in Ghana and nobody touches them.”
Here Is All You Need To Know
- According to the General Secretary of the association, Comrade Everystus Nwankwor, in a Citi News interview, Ghana’s government must make known its line of action regarding their issue so they can be advised.
- NUTAG has also called on GUTA to come to the aid of its indigenous employees who have also been unemployed since the closure of its shops.
- The two associations have been having running battles over the local retail space as the Ghanaian traders push for the enforcement of Ghana’s laws that prohibit foreigners from engaging in retail trade.
- Hundreds of foreigners‘ shops in Ghana, mostly owned by Nigerians, were reportedly locked up in a move by GUTA to clamp down on foreigners engaged in retail business against Ghanaian laws.
- Local retailers in parts of Accra and Kumasi have in recent times locked up the foreign-owned shops, preventing foreigners from going about their business.
NUTAG appeals to Akufo-Addo to ‘call GUTA to order’
- The leadership NUTAG has also asked its members at the Tip-Toe Lane to remain calm as discussions continue to have their shops reopened.
- All efforts according to them are being made to engage their Ghanaian counterparts to find a lasting solution to the current impasse.
- It appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately intervene in its ongoing brawl with the GUTA.
- NUTAG said it has endured enough of what it describes as the consistent harassment of its members since 2007.
- According to the Association, President Akufo-Addo must intervene for a re-look at the laws GUTA takes advantage of to harass them.
According to Section 27 (1) of the Ghana’s Investment Promotion Center Act, a person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly-owned by a citizen shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place. The list of prohibited trading activities are:
- The sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place;
- The operation of taxi or car hire service in an enterprise that has a fleet of less than twenty-five vehicles;
- The operation of a beauty salon or a barbershop;
- The printing of recharge scratch cards for the use of subscribers of telecommunication services;
- The production of exercise books and other basic stationery; f. the retail of finished pharmaceutical products;
- The production, supply, and retail of sachet water;
- All aspects of pool betting business and lotteries, except football pool
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award winning writer.
He could be contacted at udohrapulu@gmail.com