{"id":662831,"date":"2019-07-23T15:56:47","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T15:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/div> \n\n \n\n "},"modified":"2019-07-23T15:56:47","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T15:56:47","slug":"irate-traders-close-shops-of-foreign-retailers-at-opera-square-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/07\/23\/irate-traders-close-shops-of-foreign-retailers-at-opera-square-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Irate traders close shops of foreign retailers at Opera Square again!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some
\n members of the Ghana Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA) on Monday,
\nlocked up shops owned by foreigners at the Opera Square in Accra.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

This
\n action, which resulted in a standoff, has seen leadership of the Ghana
\nUnion of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Nigerian Union of Traders
\ninvited by the police for talks on ways to end the impasse.<\/p>\n

The closure of shops grounded business at Opera Square in Accra \u2013 a hub for electrical retailers at the Central Business District of Accra.<\/p>\n

The Accra Region\u00a0Operations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent, Kwasi Ofori, told Joy Business that, \u201cmoves have been put in place to ensure sanity prevails. We have also invited both parties on the best ways to resolve this matter before it escalates\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile,
\n President of the Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana, Chief Chukwuemeka
\nNnaji, has expressed frustration over the entire incident.<\/p>\n

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Retail traders in the Ashanti Regional capital and even in Accra have accused foreigners, Nigerians especially, of engaging in retail trade, contrary to Section 27 of GIPC Act 865 which prohibits non-Ghanaians from engaging in retail trade in the jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

\u201cForeigners,
\n even Nigerians are aware of the ECOWAS treaty on trade and we think if
\nthere is any problem we can sit and talk than engage in such an action,\u201d
\n he said.<\/p>\n

Last month, about 17 shops were locked up at the same location as the police intervened once again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In no time, the closed shops were re-opened and calm was restored.<\/p>\n

However, this time around the\u00a0closed shops remained closed as at the time the police authorities had left the scene.<\/p>\n

In all the foregoing, the GUTA has accused the police of\u00a0unfair treatment of\u00a0its members and failing to enforce the law. <\/p>\n

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\u201cThese foreign retailers have found a loophole in our retail laws and are capitalising on that. We have failed as a country to preserve what belongs to Ghanaians. We will not sit and watch them take over our market. We don\u2019t hate Nigerians, we just want the laws to work,\u201d Dr Joseph Obeng,\u00a0president of GUTA argued.<\/p>\n

Last week, the Majority Leader backed law enforcement agencies to go
\nall out and enforce the country\u2019s law barring foreigners from engaging
\nin retail trade.<\/p>\n

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu insists\u00a0no treaty entered into by Ghana supersedes domestic laws.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn its dealings with others, government shall protect and promote the interest of Ghana\u2026I have heard people saying that Ghana has ratified\u00a0conventions that is true, but the conventions cannot supplant our constitution.\u00a0In the sub-region, the ECOWAS protocol provides for free movement of goods and services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the goods arrive at any destination the laws of the country provide that retail business should be in the hands of citizens.\u00a0It is so in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d\u2019Ivoire\u00a0so let nobody say that we have ratified ECOWAS protocol, we should allow citizens from other countries including the sub-region and the Chinese, Turkish and others to engage in retail trade business,\u201d he said on the floor of Parliament, Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Source: Joy Business<\/p>\n<\/div>\n