ECOWAS warns Trade Ministry against foreign retailers clamp down

The ECOWAS Parliament has indicated it will still go ahead with its intervention to halt the removal of foreigners in retail markets, despite the trade ministry's plan to go ahead with the exercise.  

The ministry is expected to begin an exercise from Tuesday to remove non-Ghanaians engaged in retail business at market centres which are reserved for indigenes.

The Trade Minister, Hannah Tetteh at a press conference last week indicated that a request from the ECOWAS Parliament for the suspension of the exercise could not be granted.  

She stated that Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) Act, which allowed the removal of the foreign retail traders from markets, was in conformity with the ECOWAS Protocol adding that the ECOWAS Parliament did not have executive authority in any member state.

But Deputy Speaker at the ECOWAS Parliament, Michael Teye Nyaunu told Joy FM the ministry should be mindful of the implications of their action.

He added that, inasmuch as the regional legislative body could not dictate to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, he was advising that more sensitization and education be carried out on the exercise so as to prevent a looming trade war between Ghana and her ECOWAS neighbours.