Outgoing Deputy Minister Of Trade And Industry Calls On GUTA To Return To Negotiating Table
 
The outgoing Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has asked the executives of GUTA to call off the closure of shops in the markets and return to the negotiating table to solve their problem. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, Mr Vanderpuye said the Ministry has not abandoned GUTA and that they should allow their conscience dictate decisions they take at this time of the country's economic development. 

Meanwhile, business activities at the Central Business market has slowed down as members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association begin their four day protest in Accra and Kumasi. 

Most shops in the market have been closed down with a few traders doing business despite the directive by the Ghana Union of Traders Association urging all traders to close their shops. 

This is to encourage government to address the influx of foreigners in the retail sector and the depreciation of the cedi coupled with other challenges which are affecting the cost of doing business. 

In a related development, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Cephas Arthur, has assured all traders who want to open their shops to do business to do so without fear. 

He said the Police presence is not to intimidate anybody but to ensure law and order. 

The move follows the decision by GUTA to close shops in protest of what they alleged as government’s in-action to clamp down on foreigners operating in the retail market.

GBC