A brewing conflict at the Abossey Okai spare parts hub has raised concerns about xenophobia and the rule of law, after local traders issued a three-day ultimatum for foreign nationals to shut down their shops.
Executives of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association on Monday, September 8, launched a self-styled enforcement exercise to apply Section 27(1) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, 2013 (Act 865), which restricts petty trading and market activities to Ghanaian citizens. The move nearly sparked violent confrontations with foreign traders operating in the area.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Michael Ayamga-Adongo, has cautioned the Association against such unilateral action, stressing that only state institutions have the mandate to enforce investment laws.
“It is the responsibility of the Ghana Immigration Service and other relevant agencies to regulate and monitor these matters. When private groups take the law into their own hands, it becomes problematic,” Prof. Adongo told Channel One TV.
He further warned that the association’s tactics could provoke retaliatory measures against Ghanaian migrants abroad, potentially harming the country’s diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, the Spare Parts Dealers Association has doubled down on its stance, insisting foreign traders must vacate their shops within three days or face further action.
Observers say the standoff reflects wider frustrations among local traders, who accuse foreign nationals of flouting investment laws and undercutting their businesses. But others warn that Ghana’s reputation as an investment-friendly country could be undermined if such disputes spiral into hostility.
