Foreign traders asked to abide rules

Accra, March 30, GNA - A task force has been established to ensure the enforcement of Ghana's trade laws, in the markets.

Members of the task force made up of personnel from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and other Government agencies will go round the markets and ensure that the law is enforced.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Hanna Tetteh expressed concern about some foreign nationals who were engaged in trading activities in the country without complying with laws and regulations.

"We are specifically referring to the activities of foreigners trading in Ghanaian markets, an activity which is reserved for Ghanaians by the terms of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act" she said. Ms. Tetteh noted that the enterprises that were wholly reserved for Ghanaians were the sale of items in the market, petty trading, hawking and selling from kiosk at any place.

"Others include all aspects of the pool betting business and lotteries, except football pools and operations of beauty saloon and barbering shops" she said.

According to Ms, Tetteh, for the purpose of the Act, a market is defined as a "public or open space established by local custom, or by the appropriate local government council for the purpose of buying and selling and any other public place used substantially for that purpose." The taskforce will start work in April, the Minister said and asked for the public cooperation in ensuring that the law is enforced. She urged the foreign traders to abide by the rules and regulation and continue to pay taxes and other expenses to the appropriate authority to ensure that their activities were in order. 30 March, 10