Traders strike enters third day, many shops still closed

The strike action by members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has entered its third day with shops remaining closed to the public.

Mr. George Frimpong, President of GUTA, told the Ghana News Agency that consultation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry was ongoing. "The leadership of the association will inform members on the next line of action as and when we deem it necessary." On its rounds through some major shopping centers in Accra, the GNA saw shops on Pagan Road, Asafoatse Nettey Road, Lutherodt Street and the Pemasu House closed. Shops selling electrical appliances at Opera Square, shoes, materials and general goods shops at Makola and some parts of the shopping mall were also closed. Some shop owners taunted policemen and a few military personnel who were present at Opera Square and in front of Melcom, which closed earlier in the morning but reopened a few hours later.

Other areas visited include the Swalaba Shopping Centre, near the General Post Office, spare parts and electrical gadget shops at Zongo Junction, Kaneshie, Abossey Okai and along the Odorkor-Kaneshie road. Some shop owners found loitering maintained that they would not open their shops to the public until government responds favorably to their concerns. However, owners of shops located at the Dansoman Junction, near Mataheko, and scrap dealers at Kokompe at Darkuman were going about their normal business.

When contacted, Mr. Emmanuel Allotey, Secretary of the local union of the Scrap Dealers Association at Kokompe said their members were not contacted about the strike. He said even though both associations deal in spare parts, their operations differ from those who fall under GUTA.

He said despite the strike action, the volume of business has not increased. Members of the Ghana Union Traders' Association on Monday embarked on a week's strike action to press home demands on the government to put in place measures to check the slide of the cedi. According to GUTA, the slide of the cedi has eroded their capital, which has to be converted into hard currency in order to acquire wares. They also called on government not to introduce a 20.5 per cent special tax on non-essential imports. The association said the introduction of the tax would not serve its purpose because the timing is not right.