The Eastern Regional Branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has petitioned the Ministry of Trade and Industry over the continuous invasion of the retail space by foreigners in the regional capital, Koforidua.
According to GUTA, it has become very necessary for its members to begin an exercise to lock shops of foreigners engaging in retail marketing to help save their businesses from collapsing, especially in the current harsh economic conditions.
Members of the association, clad in red and black apparel, ambushed the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, at his residence late last night to present the petition to him, seeking immediate government intervention.
Darling Nana Boateng, who speaks for GUTA in the Eastern Region, after presenting the petition to the deputy minister, told Citi News that members of GUTA will act as citizens to protect their businesses.
“We are Ghanaian citizens and not spectators. As members of GUTA and traders in Ghana, by the GRPC act, foreigners are forbidden from being in our local market, especially the retail market. So that’s why we are gathered here.”
The Chairman of the Phone Dealers Association, Alhaji Kofi Ben, who spoke to Citi News, expressed confidence in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in addressing their concerns.
“We are having difficulty these days with foreigners; they’ve taken over the entire market. Assuming somebody will give you a battery or charger for 10 cedis, he will turn around and give you the same battery or charger from Nigeria for 7 cedis. You can imagine, the person who bought the thing for 10 cedis, how much is he going to sell it for? So, respectfully, we brought this petition to our MP to help us solve this problem because our market is dying. I’m standing on behalf of my people to plead with the MP to come to our aid,” Alhaji Kofi Ben said.
On his part, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and MP for New Juaben South, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, who received the petition, assured the aggrieved traders that his outfit will see to an amicable solution for all.
“I can assure you that we will do everything possible in our ministry to make sure that these sentiments raised in the document are addressed. I can also assure you that I will make sure my sector minister knows about this particular petition so that we do everything possible to address your issue,” he said.