The Ghana Union of Traders Association has threatened to close down undocumented retail shops next month.
It is unhappy that the retailers mostly Nigerians are still operating in the retail space meant for Ghanaians.
President of GUTA Dr. Joseph Obeng disclosed to Joy Business that the exercise will include retail markets at Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi and the Central Region.
“The taskforce meant to close the shops has not been active for a while. We shall resume somewhere in May 2021. This time around, we are targeting some major spots in Kumasi, Accra, Takoradi and others. It’s all about the law,” he maintained.
Figures from the Trade Ministry and GUTA show that close to 200 retail shops of undocumented foreign retailers are locked up across Accra and Kumasi.
“Out of these 200 shops none has proven to have the right documents to operate. It gives us more reason to keep them closed,” he added.
Since the closure of their retail shops i.e those owned by Igbos trading in Ghana by the local authorities, things according to Chief Nkem Tony Onyeagolu (former President for All Nigerians Community- Ashanti Region) him have gotten worse for them.
He explained that majority of Igbo traders victimized by the move are hard pressed financially, highly indebted and have not been able to pay off loans they took from financial institutions to run their business.
The closure of these shops was done by the Trade Ministry with support from GUTA.
MyPublisher24.com