In the
latest development of an ongoing melee between Ghanaian traders and foreign
shop owners, the traders have refused to reopen shops they locked-up, in spite
of a police order to do so, the enraged traders operating under the
banner of the unionized Ghana Union Of Trade Associations or GUTA, had last
week demonstrated against the government's perceived ‘slackness’ in dealing
with their complaints concerning the implementation of a law which bars
foreigners from engaging in petty trading.
They
then followed up with a forcible lock-up of all such businesses in the city of
Kumasi, Ghana's second largest metropolis, and also the capital of the Ashanti
region.
Nigerians
seem to be the most affected in this whole showdown.
A
directive from the Ashanti Regional command of the Ghana Police Service ordered
members of GUTA to reopen the shops, those belonging mostly to Nigerian
retailers, that were locked up on Monday July 14th. But according to witnesses
providing up-to-the-minute details, and as at press time, the directive is yet
to be complied with.
According
to the police command, it is an unlawful act to close the shops as it infringes
on the rights of the Nigerian traders, but GUTA also presents a counter
argument, citing the Ghana Investment Promotion Act 865 2013. That act
explicitly bars them from establishing businesses in the first place.
Meanwhile,
Chief Kizito Ike Obiora, the Spokesperson for Nigerian Union of Traders
Association in Kumasi, told the press that the shops remain locked and any
attempts to engage GUTA for an ‘amicable solution’ has proved
unsuccessful.
“Yesterday,
the commander gave us assurance. In our presence, he ordered the executive of
GUTA to open the shops. At the moment, they haven’t opened it, so we are still
waiting for them” Ike Obiora said.
Recently,
Haruna Iddris, the Minister of Trade and Industry had set up a 13-member
committee to check the influx of foreigners into the local retail trade.
Ghana
and Nigeria have a history of trade tensions, which have in the past resulted
in the deportation of each others nationals.
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