Foreign Retail Trade C’ttee to be reconvened by Trade Ministry over rejection of special dispensation by Nigerian traders
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), is expected to reconvene the Committee on Foreign Retail Trade in the coming days over the decision of the Nigerian Union Traders Association Ghana (NATUG) to reject some special dispensations and concessions offered them by the government.
In view of NATUG’s rejection of the special dispensation and concessions, the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) has called for the resumption of closure of Nigerian shops in the country
The Committee constituted by the Trade Ministry and the Presidency is expected to deal with and resolve the growing impasse between GUTA and NATUG.
Speaking on the reconvening of the Committee, Public Relations Officer of the Trade Ministry, Prince Boateng, stated that the Committee will not hesitate to crack the whip on Nigerian traders if they once again fail to obey the laws regarding retail trade in the country.
“The Trade Ministry’s decision to reconvene the Committee is to help deal with the current ongoing impasse and the Committee will not fail to crack the whip if necessary.
“The Committee is being asked to take needful actions to ensure that foreign traders respect the laws of the land,” said Mr Boateng.
The Committee’s resolve to crack the whip on foreign traders if the need be, Mr Boateng stated this is as a result of the NATUG’s decision to opt out of discussions with government on resolving the retail trade feud between the two associations.
But reacting to Mr Boateng’s assertion of NATUG opting out of discussions with government, President of NATUG, Chukukwe Emeka stated that claims by the Trade Ministry’s PRO that it opted out of the discussions with government are untrue.
Adding that, the Association has not rejected the special dispensations and concessions of the GIPC law offered it by the government.
“We did not back out of the discussions, it’s the Trade Ministry that did not allow the concessions to be given to Nigerians so we could benefit from it simply because we raised some concerns.
“And it is also a lie that we have rejected the concessions of the GIPC law and the special dispensations given,” he stated.
Related Story: Ghana-Nigeria Trade War: GUTA calls for reclosure of Nigerian shops
Notable among the special dispensation and concession of the GIPC law offered Nigerian traders is the review and exclusion of Nigerian traders from the $1 million minimum requirement in setting up a retail trade in the country.
Background
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.
