All retail shops and petty trading businesses belonging to Nigerians in Koforidua the Eastern Regional Capital risk being closed down from next month September 1 to 3, 2020 by Presidential Taskforce on Foreign Retail Trade.
Ghana’s law does not permit foreigners from retailing however the retail market in Koforidua has been infiltrated by Nigerians collapsing local businesses.
Currently, members of GUTA in the Eastern Region are agitating over the influx of foreigners mostly Nigerians in retail business contrary to the laws of Ghana.
The local GUTA Chapter has therefore issued an ultimatum demanding the closure of retail shops of the Nigerians by August 31, 2020, threatening to unleash thugs to forcefully eject the Nigerians from the local market if their calls not heeded.
“The Nigerians are retailing here with impunity and nobody seems to care. We keep complaining but this time our leaders have assured us that by September 1 to 3rd,2020 the Taskforce will be here to clampdown on them. We are by this waiting patiently. If they fail, we will unleash our thugs to eject these Nigerians from the retail market. We can’t wait for these people to collapse our Businesses if they want to trade they should supply their goods to Ghanaians to trade .we are not saying they should leave to their countries” Harry Blay alias China House, a member of local GUTA Chapter stated.
According to the local union, some Nigerians evacuated from troubled areas such as Accra and Kumasi have trooped to Koforidua retailing mostly in mobile phones and accessories affecting local businesses.
The angry GUTA Members issued the warning Thursday in a meeting with the National Executives of GUTA
The President of GUTA Joseph Obeng urged the members to remain calm assuring that the Presidential Taskforce on Foreign Retail Trade will from September 1st to 3rd, begin an operation to clampdown on foreigners illegally trading in the Koforidua and other parts of the Eastern Region to sanitize the market to protect local Businesses.
He said retailing is an exclusive business for Ghanaians only hence the Union will ensure compliance by all foreigners.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
