The Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has closed down 38 retail shops belonging to foreigners in Koforidua.
Members of GUTA, during an operation to close down shops of foreigners engaging in the retail space, had a heated confrontation with some Nigerian nationals who stormed the premises of the New Juaben South Assembly to demand the immediate release of confiscated goods by GUTA.
According to the Eastern Regional Vice Chairman of GUTA Samuel Aikins, the GIPC ACT 865 forbids foreigners from entering into retail trade so that is why we are stopping them from operating in retail. We are asking them not to retail. They can bring the goods, and give them to Ghanaians to sell at retail price.
A timely intervention by the Member of Parliament for the area and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Kofi Okyere Baafi, who was on a tour in the constituency at the time of the confrontation, prevented the volatile scene from escalating.
But he warned the foreigners to evacuate their shops before Christmas to avoid any further misunderstanding.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
