GUTA gives gov’t two-week ultimatum over foreign retailers

The Northern Progressive Traders Association of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), has issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to bring foreigners in the retail business to order.

The union said they cannot be held responsible for any actions if the government fail to bring the foreigners to respect Ghana’s laws.

GUTA Northern sector said they are not against foreigners engaging in lawful businesses but they cannot allow a few foreigners who do not respect the laws of the country to collapse their businesses.

Addressing the media on the current impasse between Ghanaian traders and their foreign counterparts in Tamale, the progressive traders Secretary, Thomas Adei indicated that, they have an intention to demonstrate but added it has nothing to do with what is happening between Ghanaian traders in Suame Magazine in Kumasi and Nigerians.

Mr Adei said the union’s intended demonstration is not to incite the public against foreigners.

That notwithstanding, he said Ghanaian traders can no longer tolerate the unfair trade practice and the earlier the relevant authorities such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), the Immigration Service and many others act swiftly the better.

Mr Adei explained that there are some places in Nigeria which are strictly for Nigerian businesses, therefore, the need for Ghana to emulate that.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has sent a stern warning to individuals who may take advantage of the recent agitations between the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and Nigerians engaging in retail businesses in Ghana to perpetrate acts of violence against Nigerian nationals living in the Northern part of Ghana.

In a statement signed by the chairman of REGSEC, Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, REGSEC stressed that it will not hesitate to deal with any unscrupulous persons who will take advantage of the incident to undermine the peace and security of the region.

The statement further directed GUTA (Northern chapter) to use the appropriate channels to address their concerns.

It added that REGSEC “finds it prudent to issue this statement to call for restraint from all sides and reassure all well-meaning Ghanaians and our Nigerian counterparts who are performing their rightful legitimate business in Northern Region of its readiness to curtail and avert any untoward act of vandalism and violence while a permanent solution to the impasse is found.”

Source:Starrfm.com.gh