Government sets up technical committee to address foreigners in retail business

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has revealed that the Government of Ghana is working to address issues about foreigners engaged in retail business in Ghana, an action that violates the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC’s) GIPC Act.

Mr. Ntim Odonkor, a representative of the Minster of Trade and Industry during the inauguration of the Tenants of Makola Shopping Mall Association, a branch of the Ghana National Union of Traders Association (GUTA), noted that, upon the directive from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a technical committee has been put together by the sector ministry to look into the matter and make its recommendations.

Similarly, he said, parliament has asked its subsidiary committee on Trade and Industry to also make recommendations to that effect.

His comments come on the heels of concerns raised by members of GUTA over some foreigners engaged in retail trading.

Per Section 27 of the GIPC Act 865, “A person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by a citizen, shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place.”

Mr. Ondonkor said on Tuesday, February 4 that: “The issue of foreigners taking over trading activities reserved for Ghanaians which has been your concern sometime has also come to the notice of government.

“As directed by his Excellency, a technical sub-committee has been put together to ensure the implementation of the president’s directives on this matter”, he emphasized.

“Secondly, parliament has charged its subsidiary committee on Trade, Industry to study and make recommendations in a by-partisan manner with a view to finding a sustainable solution to this issue”, he added.