The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) in the Eastern Region on Monday, September 20,2021 embarked on a protest against continuous involvement of foreigners mostly Nigerians in retail trade in the Regional capital, Koforidua.
The protesters violently locked up about 40 retail shops belonging to foreigners.
The Eastern Regional branch of Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) had earlier called on the Presidential Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trading of the Ministry of Trade to resume its exercise of clamping down on foreigners engaging in retail trading in the region to protect local business.
A statement issued Monday, May 10, 2021 and signed by the Eastern Regional chairman of GUTA, Harry Oduro Awuku, reminded the taskforce from the Ministry of Trade of the need to continue the work that they commenced last year in order to sustain the gains made.
“The work has been done and we called for continuation in order to sustain the gains, there are also new entrants invading our markets in recent times due to the Covid-19 restrictions”.The statement said.
The Regional chapter of GUTA explained that the GIPC law meant to protect indigenous traders must be enforced same as other country’s including Nigerians have been enforcing their internal trade laws.
The association said, the ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme makes it clear that investment and investors are subject to the laws and regulations of the host state especially if their actions are unhealthy to the people of the host country.
Four months after the statement, GUTA members in the region took the laws into their hands to lock up the retail shops of foreigners in Koforidua.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/Kojo Ansah