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Court To Try Illegal Traders

By Daily Guide
Business & Finance Court To Try Illegal Traders
OCT 16, 2014 LISTEN

Chief Justice Georgina Wood listens to Dr Spio-Garbrah.

The Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina T. Wood, says her outfit is studying the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act (ACT 865) to dedicate a special court to prosecute non-Ghanaians found engaging in retail trade in Ghana's markets.

Mrs Wood disclosed this when Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Trade & Industry, and some members of the taskforce called on her at her office.

The courts, she noted, will possibly sit on Saturdays to try offenders of the law on retail business which is a preserve of Ghanaians.

Also, she said Ghanaians, who may be violating the provisions of the law by conniving with such foreigners would also be punished.

To ensure speedy trial of offenders, she urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry to put in place a team of prosecutors who will be trained by the Judicial Service to be abreast of the law and gather evidence for the prosecution.

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Gabrah said some non-Ghanaians have taken over the retail business and were depriving Ghanaians of their livelihood in contravention of the GIPC Act.

In some cases such operations are carried out with the consent of Ghanaians who front for non-Ghanaians in the market centres.

Following various calls from GUTA, the Ministry of Trade and Industry set up a taskforce to check this act which culminated in the sensitization of non-Ghanaians about the law and the need for them to desist from such practices.

Dr. Spio-Garbrah indicated that the exercise will succeed if the Judiciary also delivers effective justice by applying the law to protect the interest of Ghanaians.

He added that his ministry would continue its sensitization programme and capacity building for prosecutors in order for prosecution to begin in November barring any hitches.

He, however, cautioned Ghanaians who front for these non-Ghanaians to desist from such practices as they are equally liable for prosecution under the law.

Edward Ashong Lartey, Director of Monitoring and Tracking at the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), in a submission, said the GIPC law does not forbid non-Ghanaians from trading in the country but they are not expected to do petty trading at the designated markets.

Mr. Lartey said the GIPC Law entreats non-Ghanaians to trade in Ghana provided they have $1million in goods or cash to be ascertained by Customs clearance forms or certified by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

 
- Myjoyonline
 
(Pix saved as spio and chief justice in bus)
Cap: The Chief Justice listens to Dr Spio-Garbrah
 

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