We’re disappointed in Akufo-Addo – GUTA

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) says it is disappointed in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his call to its members to exercise restraint in dealing with foreigners in the retail business in Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region advised GUTA members who closed about 600 shops belonging to foreign traders at Kwame Nkrumah Circle not to take the law into their own hands.

Although Nana Akufo-Addo admitted that the members and leadership of GUTA have a genuine concern, he said “it is the State that interprets how the laws should be applied”

“People cannot take the law into their own hands and purportedly seek to enforce it. If we tread on that line, Ghana will become ungovernable,” he indicated.

Responding the comments, GUTA said the President’s words ought to reflect his actions, and that he has to take action by allowing law enforcement agencies deal with the foreign retailers.

“We are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo because this is not the first time we are meeting with him over this same issue,” Public Relation Officer for GUTA, Albert Mensah, told Onua FM.

“At a point, the president instructed the Trade Minister Hon. Alan Kyeremateng to set up a compliance team to spearhead the move in ensuring that the GIPC Act is enforced, but what has happened?,” he questioned

Mr Mensah further reiterated the association’s call on government to empower the security agencies in applying the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 2013 (Act 865), which seeks to protect retail business solely for Ghanaians.