The Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) is intensifying pressure on the government to enforce the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act, warning that failure to do so could spark nationwide protests.
At the centre of GUTA’s demand is Section 27(1) of the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865), which prohibits foreigners from engaging in retail trade and petty trading in Ghana’s markets.
Despite this law, foreign nationals continue to operate freely in retail spaces, especially in major urban centres, sparking frustration among local traders who say their businesses are being pushed to the brink.
Speaking to Citi Business News, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GUTA, Nana Kwabena Peprah, expressed disappointment in what he described as the government’s “deafening silence” after traders recently staged a protest at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
“We were expecting dialogue or at least some assurance from the authorities, but nothing has come. Meanwhile, our members across the regions are becoming restless. The government must not wait until things get out of hand,” he said.
The issue goes beyond economic competition, GUTA argues. The union says the continued disregard for the law sends a troubling signal about the state’s commitment to protecting Ghanaian enterprises.
According to traders, particularly mobile phone dealers and retail shop owners, the presence of foreign traders operating illegally not only violates the law but also undercuts prices and stifles local competitiveness. They believe enforcement agencies have failed to act, thereby emboldening these illegal operations.
GUTA insists that unless firm steps are taken to address the situation, tensions in commercial districts may escalate. The association is currently considering nationwide demonstrations if the government does not respond swiftly to their demands.
As the economy grapples with multiple pressures, GUTA says now is the time for authorities to restore confidence among Ghanaian traders by upholding the laws meant to protect their livelihoods.
