Ghana-Nigeria Trade War: GUTA calls for reclosure of Nigerian shops
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has called for the reclosure of shops belonging to undocumented foreign retailers, particularly those belonging to Nigerians.
GUTA making the call on the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade, noted it is imperative that the Committee as a matter of urgency resume operations to close down shops of such foreign retailers.
The decision by the Association follows the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana’s (NUTAG) rejection of the special dispensations granted them by the Government of Ghana despite series of diplomatic efforts by both governments.
“This inappropriate attitude of the Nigerian traders in Ghana is not only an insult but also a well-orchestrated ploy to frustrate the committee, state, and people of Ghana. Therefore, we of the Ghana Union of the Traders’ Associations wish to appeal to the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade to, as a matter of urgency resume its operations without any delays as the behaviour of the Nigerian traders has seriously provoked Ghanaian traders and reigniting agitations in the markets,” stated GUTA.
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Nigerian traders despite the long opposition to their involvement in the country’s retail space by trade bodies such as the GUTA, have been officially allowed to participate and trade in the Ghana’s retail space given that they are able to provide the $1 million minimum capital required of foreign businesses under the GIPC Act.
Meanwhile, Chief Nkem Tony Onyeagolu, the former President for All Nigerians Community for Ashanti Regional chapter, has appealed to President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo to issue a directive for the re-opening of shops owned by Nigerian traders.
According to him, since the closure of their retail shops by local authorities, things have gotten worse for Nigerians trading in the country.
He explained that the majority of Igbo traders have been victimised by the move and are hard pressed financially, highly indebted and have not been able to pay off loans they took from financial institutions to run their business.
The closure of Nigerian shops was done in 2019 by the Trade Ministry with support from GUTA.
