The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has formally distanced itself from the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), citing persistent exclusion from key decision-making processes within the traders’ umbrella body.
Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, December 14, the association’s Head of Communication, Takyie Addo, expressed deep frustration over what he described as a pattern of disregard for the interests and role of the Abossey Okai leadership.
Central to the association’s concerns is GUTA’s recent inauguration of a new president without inviting or consulting the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, one of the country’s largest and most influential trading groups.
According to Mr Addo, decisions that directly affect traders are increasingly being taken without the knowledge or involvement of the Abossey Okai leadership, a situation he said undermines the welfare of its members.
“This goes beyond a missed invitation,” Mr Addo stated. “It reflects a sustained neglect by GUTA and a failure to recognise the critical role our association plays in Ghana’s business landscape.”
He further criticised what he described as a closed decision-making culture within GUTA, warning that sidelining a major stakeholder like Abossey Okai raises serious questions about inclusiveness and representation.
In response to the unresolved grievances, Mr Addo announced that the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association will no longer take part in any GUTA activities or decisions. He stressed that the association would not resume collaboration until GUTA’s leadership formally acknowledges its relevance and ensures its inclusion in future deliberations that affect traders.
“This decision will inevitably weaken GUTA’s ability to develop credible and representative policies,” he cautioned, adding that the relationship between the two bodies will remain severed until mutual respect and meaningful engagement are restored.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku