Stop closing Nigerian retailers as we work to resolve deadlock – Trade Ministry to GUTA – Citi Business News

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has cautioned the Ghana Union of Traders Associations to chorus from locking up any extra retailers belonging to Nigerians who’re working in Ghana’s retail house.

This follows the organising of a joint taskforce composed of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Nigeria Union of Traders Association (NUTAG) meant  to deliver an finish to the tussle between Ghanaian and Nigerian merchants.

In latest months, the disagreement between Ghanaian and Nigerian merchants in Ghana’s retail house has intensified.

The state of affairs prior to now weeks has result in the closure of foreign-owned retailers in Koforidua and Accra within the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions respectively due to stalled negotiations below the taskforce.

The taskforce is to implement the provisions of the brand new framework of engagement for the participation of the Nigerian nationals in retail in Ghana.

This was contained in a press launch by the Ministry of Trade and Industry following a high-level bilateral assembly between Ghana and Nigeria with regard to retail commerce.

“The Joint Taskforce co-chaired by a senior representative of the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) and a representative of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, met on three occasions, first on 10^th August 2021, second on 13^th August 2021 and subsequently on 31^st August 2021. The deliberations in these meetings were inconclusive, which has resulted in public comments from both GUTA and NUTAG on disagreements between the two parties in the implementation of the agreed framework of engagement for the participation of Nigerian national in retail trade in Ghana”.

“In this regard, another meeting of the Joint Implementation Taskforce has been scheduled for Tuesday 5^th October 2021 to resolve the impasse”.

“Against this background, the Ministry requests the leadership of GUTA and NUTAG to refrain from further press releases, the closure of shops, and any other actions in respect of this matter until the convening of the next meeting of the taskforce as referenced above”.

“The leadership of GUTA and NUTAG are accordingly requested to notify their members to comply with this directive”, the letter acknowledged.