Traders in Kasoa, Central Region, have expressed frustration over the increasing presence of foreigners in the retail and petty trading sector, calling on the government to enforce existing laws that protect local traders.
Some of the traders who spoke at the Community Forum on Channel One TV voiced concerns that the influx of foreign retailers is negatively impacting their livelihoods.
Harrietta Otoo, a trader and a member of the Ghana Trade Union Association (GUTA), Kasoa chapter stated: “We have laws as traders, but the laws do not favour us as traders. For me, I think traders are the government’s least problem; we are not even part of the people. The law that prohibits foreigners from engaging in retailing or petty trading has been neglected.
“I don’t think that should be the case. Our men are losing their jobs to foreigners. We have raised these concerns several times now. What do you want us to say? We are all supposed to get a share of the national cake, but only a few people are benefitting,” she stated.
Another trader and council member of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), Thomas Kwasi Arthur, echoed these sentiments, revealing that local traders have been battling this issue for years without resolution.
“It seems we have been battling this for a very long time. The government comes to us with promises, but the issue is still the same. They come to us to tell us that these foreigners will not sell with us. They are not going to have the petty trading with you.
“They are only to engage in wholesaling. But they are doing the petty trading and the wholesaling. We cannot use our civilian power to invade them from our market. The government must do that. When we get up, we can lock up the stores, but within a few days, they will call us to open up.
“The government hasn’t enforced any law concerning the foreigners. Recently we heard them say there is something free trade, we were in the meeting with them. They explained to us that the foreigners are not supposed to sell with us in petty trading, but when you go to the read side, you will see the foreigners more than the citizens,” he stated.
