In the Ashanti Region, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has threatened to shut down shops owned by foreign nationals if the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry does not finalize a decisive agreement on retail regulations.
The association argues that the growing number of foreign operators in the retail sector is displacing Ghanaian traders and undermining local businesses. GUTA’s Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman, raised concerns about foreign dominance in local markets, which he says violates laws reserving certain retail activities for Ghanaian citizens.
“Support from successive governments has been insufficient. Many markets are dominated by Nigerians and Chinese, some owning multiple shops and often avoiding taxes. When we engaged the KMA, they suggested allowing at least one shop to remain open, but we refused,” Nyame stated.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has proposed that foreign retailers allocate at least 40 percent of their shelves to products made in Ghana. Thompson Appam Attebila, AGI’s Ashanti Regional Manager, emphasized that foreign participants in retail must actively promote local goods to benefit domestic producers.
“Granting them access to retail should come with the condition that a significant portion around 40 percent of their offerings are Ghanaian-made, giving local manufacturers a real advantage,” he explained.