Accra, Ghana, July 25, 2018//-Ghana has suspended indefinitely its July 27 deadline clampdown on foreigners operating in the country’s domestic retail sector exclusively reserved for Ghanaians.
The government its Ministry of Trade and Industry explained in a press statement that the decision to indefinitely suspend the enforcement of the provisions of the laws on retail business was taken after consultation with stakeholders.
The suspension of the deadline, according to the ministry would allow for intensified sensitization and education in the domestic retail trade sector of the West African country.
On July 11, 2018, the government issued a public notice to foreigners engaged in retail business, which is reserved for only Ghanaian nationals, to cease by July 27 or face legal action.
“Notice is hereby given to all non-Ghanaians who are engaged in retail trading activities contrary to the provision of the Act [GIPC Law 2013] to desist from doing so,” an earlier notice from the ministry said.
It added: “All persons engaged in such practices are therefore advised to stop to avoid legal actions being taken against them. Offenders are entreated to move out of the markets by Friday, July 27, 2018,”
Section 27 (1) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Law 2013, (Act 865) states: “A person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.”
In spite of this law, nationals from neighbouring West African countries including Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Togo as well as other nationals from China, India, and South Africa have over the years invaded the domestic retail sector meant for Ghanaians.
These foreign nationals usually operate in the major cities of Ghana, namely Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, among others which the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) has persistently complained about.
African Eye Report
