The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has blamed the country’s weak institutions and lack of enforcement of laws for the illegal activities of foreigners.
The president of the association, Dr. Joseph Obeng in a Citi News interview expressed regret that institutions in the country are letting down Ghanaian businesses by failing to enforce laws made.
He said GUTA will hit the streets, among other protests, if the government does not act immediately to halt the activities of foreigners within the local retail market space.
“We have had so many infractions on the law, and that is why the people are very annoyed this time. There were about 500 people [Nigerians] who couldn’t provide their duty documents and ID cards to the police. The police have the report, what are they doing with it… Why are we so timid as a nation to enforce our laws. We are so weak, that is why I don’t blame the foreigners, I blame the authorities. The foreigners are taking advantage of a weak country that is sleeping on its laws,” he said.
Dr. Joseph Obeng stressed that within the next three months, it will embark on a number of exercises to rid the country’s retail outlets of foreigners.
GUTA members and Nigerian traders in Ghana have clashed at various commercial centers in recent times, sparking concerns about the possible injured relationship between Ghana and its Nigerian neighbours.
“We have to use our laws. The sovereign laws that we have, we have to enforce them to the letter. Running a state is not a brother and sister affair so you say due to Ghana’s relationship with Nigeria you will not enforce your sovereign laws,” Dr. Obeng said.
