The National Welfare Officer of Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Benjamin Yeboah, has called on government to revamp committee on retail trade to deal with foreign traders operating in its members retail space.

According to him, members of the Association are agitating over the resumption of operations by foreign retailers in the country.

His comments follow request by members of the Kasoa branch of GUTA calling for the Presidential Committee on Foreign Retail Trade to address the issue.

To address this, members are demanding the enforcement of laws in order for indigenous retail traders to work at ease.

“In Kasoa, unfortunately, we have a large number of foreigners that trade in these retail businesses that is forbidden by law. Last year, because the COVID-19 committee set up by the Trade Ministry couldn’t work that much. It was a bit slow but still, they were able to do some work”.

Revamp committee on retail trade

According to the Association, foreigners took advantage of the break undertaken by the committee due to the outbreak of COVID-19. As a result, they invaded the retail market and subsequently took over spaces meant for Ghanaian traders.

“There was a timetable that they were trying to follow until the elections. So, after the elections, we have been waiting for government to put in place all those necessary structures that they have to. But time is running and we are in May and our members are also crying. Funny enough even though our borders are closed to these foreigners they are able to trickle in through these borders; and they are still taking up places in the market and this is a bother to them.

“We are calling on government that as a matter of urgency the committee on retail trade should be revamped so that they can start where they left off and then come to the aid of our members because they are at their wits end. We as leaders will be talking to them and trying to calm them down, but how long can we continue doing that”.

GUTA threatens closure of unregistered shops

In April, the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, revealed that the Association will resume the close down of unregistered foreign retail shops in May.

According to him, the exercise will cover retail centres in Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi and the Central Region.

Data from the Association revealed some 200 unregistered foreign retail shops remain locked up in Accra and Kumasi.

Additionally, Dr Obeng revealed that none of the 200 shops have proven “to have the right documents to operate”. This, he noted, gives the Association “more reason to keep them closed”.

Reacting to this, the former President for All Nigerian Communities in Ashanti Region, Chief Nkem Tony Onyeagolu, called on President Akufo-Addo to direct the reopening of locked-up Nigerian shops.

Countering the request in a statement, the Ashanti Regional Branch of GUTA described as the situation as unfortunate.

The retail feud between some foreign retail traders and GUTA members prompted the Association to petition President Buhari.

to call the Nigerian retailers in the country to order. It indicated that this was necessary to address false allegations on matters pertaining to the ongoing feud.