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Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has suspended the deadline for removing foreigners from Ghana’s retail markets.

This, the ministry says is to intensify sensitization and education in the domestic retail trade sector.

Read Also: Ghana: Government Orders Non-Ghanaian Retailers To Leave Sector Or Face Sanctions

Per the GIPC law Section 27(1) of the GIPC Act, a person who is not a citizen or an enterprise which is not wholly owned by 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.

It will be recalled that the ministry earlier gave notice to all foreign retailers to vacate the country’s retail markets by 27th of this month or face severe sanctions.

But a statement released by the Ministry and copied to WakeUp Africa, said the exercise has been suspended.

The ministry however demands the corporation of the trading community and the general public in this regard.

Sack Chinese from retail trade

Ghanaian retailers have over the years complained about foreigners including the Chinese invading the retail sector.

In 2016, some fishing gear retailers threatened to close down shops operated by Chinese nationals if the government fails to stop them from establishing retail businesses.

The aggrieved traders complained that the Chinese who are mainly their suppliers had established shops in the country and are engaging in retailing of the fishing gears and other equipment.

Stop foreigners in the retail business – GUTA

Members of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Traders Union Association (GUTA) in September 2017 gave the government a 72-hour ultimatum to address issues concerning the influx of foreigners engaging in retail businesses in the country or face their wrath.

According to the leadership of the Association, consistent calls to authorities to address their concerns have been unsuccessful so far hence their threat.

But their threat has since not yielded any positive result as the foreigners are still trading on the markets.

Report by Gideon Sarpong | WakeUp Africa