The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has instructed the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to promptly halt the locking of shops run by foreign nationals involved in retail trade.
This directive was issued following a private meeting between the Assembly and GUTA’s leadership, which aimed to alleviate tensions between local traders and foreign retailers within the metropolis.
In a statement shared with the Ghana News Agency, the Mayor of Kumasi, Mr Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, recognised GUTA’s concerns regarding what it termed the growing encroachment of foreign traders into the local retail market, in contravention of Ghana’s trade regulations.
He assured the union that the Assembly is dedicated to resolving the issue through lawful and sustainable approaches.
The Mayor of Kumasi encouraged GUTA to focus on dialogue and cooperation instead of taking unilateral actions, emphasising that a resolution to the issue necessitates coordinated efforts among the relevant state agencies.
To address the protracted dispute, the KMA has established a multi-agency committee comprising representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the KMA, and GUTA.
