The leadership of National Union Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG) has accused their counterpart in Ghana, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) of being ignorant regarding trade laws in Ghana
“Do they [GUTA] know more than the government; the people who govern this country [Ghana]?”, Ashanti Regional Chairman of branch of NUTAG, Chief Kizito Ikechukwu Obiora justified why their members are still engaging retailing businesses contrary to Ghana’s trade laws.
According to Chief Kizito Ikechukwu Obiora, Nigerians in Ghana have not broken Ghana’s trade laws as claimed by members of GUTA, therefore, members can engage in retailing.
“Ghana government gave us ultimatum to all foreigners in Ghana here to regularize our business through GIPC act or the person leaves the market. Out of fear and panic we went to Abuja ECOWAS Parliament to report the matter which brought ECOWAS Parliament here in Ghana [and] Ghana government made it clear we have to register our business as a Ghanaians”, he revealed in an interview monitored.
According to Chief Kizito Ikechukwu Obiora, few of their members who have not registered their business is a result of the cumbersome processes and hassle foreigners pass through in getting documentation to do so.
“Before you get residence permit you must get doctors’ report at the cost of Ghcc900. Police report Ghc1200. None citizen I.D. card 120 dollars before you pay Ghc400 in addition to residence permit”, he stated in an interview Kwabena Danso-Dapaah monitored.
GUTA is demanding the closure of all retail shops belonging to foreigners by Monday with claims that the government has not fulfilled its promise of ridding the market of such traders despite several appeals.
Already, the Association has begun serving these foreign traders with eviction notices, and have already locked up a few adding that they cannot tolerate the foreigners anymore.
Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
