President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday sounded a cautionary note to members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) over the seeming attacks on foreigners who have been accused of doing retail business which is a preserve of Ghanaians.
He asked them not to take the law into their own hands as they seek to enforce the law on retail trading.
“People cannot take the law into their own hands and enforce the law. If we do that, Ghana will become chaotic. We have to be careful about this phenomenon of taking the law into our own hands about situations that government is yet to resolve,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Addressing the leadership of GUTA in Accra yesterday on his second day tour of the Greater Accra Region, the President said, “Please allow the work that the Trade Minister and the Committee are doing with the Immigration Authorities to progress.”
“I am confident that if we allow same to work, your issues with foreign participation in the retail business will soon be a thing of the past in line with the law,” he added.
The President assured the traders that his administration was working closely with the Bank of Ghana to find a lasting solution to the phenomenon of high interest rates that affect businesses.
He also commented on the issue of locked-up cash of traders in some insolvent Microfinance companies which were taken out of business following the banking and financial sector reforms.
He asked the traders to be a little more patient with his government as it works to clear all the debts owed them.
Trade Minister
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan K. Kyeremanten, commended the traders highly for receiving the President in such a rousing manner.
He said the traders were the backbone of the economy and could not be taken for granted, saying “some people are out there to say all manner of things to get your minds twisted as far as the issues are concerned. Ignore them and keep faith with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo because in due course, things will take great shape.”
GUTA Position
GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng reiterated that his members were only helping the government to enforce the law banning foreigners in the retail business and were not there to cause mayhem.
He said they would follow the law to ensure there is amicable solution for the issue and ensure that Ghanaian traders receive the needed protection.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu