KMA directs GUTA to suspend locking of foreigners’ shops
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has directed the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to immediately suspend the locking of shops operated by foreign nationals engaged in retail trade.
The directive followed a closed-door meeting between the Assembly and the leadership of GUTA aimed at easing tensions between local traders and foreign retailers in the metropolis.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, the Mayor of Kumasi, Mr Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, acknowledged GUTA’s concerns about what it described as the increasing encroachment of foreign traders into the local retail space, in violation of Ghana’s trade laws.
He assured the union that the Assembly was committed to addressing the issue through lawful and sustainable means.
The Kumasi Mayor urged GUTA to prioritise dialogue and collaboration rather than resorting to unilateral action, stressing that resolving the matter required coordinated efforts among relevant state agencies.
As part of measures to tackle the long-standing dispute, the KMA has set up a multi-agency committee made up of representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the KMA, and GUTA.
The committee will oversee investigations, monitor compliance, and guide enforcement activities in line with existing trade regulations.
In the interim, the Assembly has advised all foreign nationals involved in retail trade within the metropolis to voluntarily vacate the retail space by December 9, 2025. This move, according to the statement, is to prevent any forceful removal during a joint enforcement exercise to be undertaken by security agencies, the KMA, and GUTA.
The directive forms part of efforts to restore order and ensure full compliance with Ghana’s trade laws while safeguarding stability within the local market.
The KMA expressed optimism that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, the implementation of the directive would be carried out peacefully and smoothly.
