Task Force issues final eviction notice to foreign traders
The Inter-agency Task Force setup to check the activities of foreign traders who have infringed on Ghanaian laws of setting up business in markets, on Wednesday issued final eviction warning letters to relocate.
The final eviction warning letters was to remind the recalcitrant traders who are still doing business within geographical market location reserved for Ghanaian traders despite various engagements aimed at educating them to vacate or face the full rigours of the laws.
Nana Sarpong, Acting Director of Communication and Public Affairs of the Ministry of Trade and Industry said every country has laws to protect its citizens.
He said the exercise is not against any particular nationality but against individuals who have infringed on Ghanaian laws for setting up business.
Nana Sarpong accused most of the recalcitrant traders of failing to pay taxes to the state and use fraudulent means to register their businesses thereby avoiding the responsibility of paying taxes.
He said after final warning letters and the Task Force would go ahead and make sure these traders comply with the law.
He said enforcing the Ghana Investment Promotion Commission law does not mean these foreign traders would be sent back to their countries but would be advised to relocate to other places, from the central business district of Accra.
The Task Force started the exercise from the Central Business District of Accra on Tuesday, November 20, and continued through the Abossey Okai Spare Parts market.
The Task Force is made up of representatives from the Ghana Union of Traders Association, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and National Security.
The group visited various foreign own stores at the market.
The Task Force also visited a number of spare parts stores owned by Chinese ECOWAS nationals.
The Task Force and journalists on the tour noticed that most of the foreign shops have not registered their businesses with the GIPC as required by the law.
Besides, most of the shops that were close do not have any inscription written on the frontage to identify them.
Source: GNA