President of the All Nigerian Community in Eastern Region Rev. Paul Olabisi has expressed satisfaction over the enforcement of the Law on Foreigners in retail business in Koforidua.
According to him the exercise which commenced today has been very smooth and satisfactory.
He said the leadership of the Nigerian community will ensure registered Members secure all the needed documents required of them within the stipulated 14 days period.
Thirty-Nine (39) out of forty retail shops owned by foreigners in Koforidua visited by the Technical subcommittee on the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade found operating without the necessary documents have been issued 14 days’ notice to regularize their documents or risk closure.
The Technical subcommittee on the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade made up of personnel from Immigration, Ghana Revenue Authority, Standard Authority, Police, Customs and Members of Ghana Union of Traders Association on Tuesday began three-day document verification of all foreigners operating businesses in Koforidua.
Many of the shops visited on the first day of the exercise were Mobile Phones and Accessories shops owned by Nigerians as well as Rice shops owned by Indians and Lebanese.
Only one out of the 40 shops visited had all valid documents, the rest of the 39 were either operating with expired documents or failed to produce documents demanded from them.
Notices were posted in front of their shops to ensure they secure all the needed documents. Few had their passports confiscated.
At one of the shops, a young Ghanaian woman popped up that the shop was opened for her Nigerian husband to operate. She was asked to produce a marriage certificate indicating they are legitimately married.
Leader of the Technical subcommittee on the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade, Edward Adjenim Boateng told the media, the exercise in Eastern Region is a quite different from other regions visited because this is the first time such exercise is being conducted in the region hence given the culprit foreigners in retail business 14 days grace period to secure all the needed documentation.
He said the Presidential Taskforce will subsequently be deployed to clamp down on those who fail to secure all the needed documents required to operate a business in Ghana which their shops will be close down.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
