Ministry Of Trade And GUTA Set To Make Headway Over Foreign Retailers

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND GHANA UNION OF TRADERS ASSOCIATION (GUTA)

The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to support Ghanaians involved in the retail trade sector. In this regard, the Committee on Retail Trade established in May 2018 to oversee the enforcement of domestic retail legislation, regulations and policies, has been mandated to continue its work with a higher level of executive authority with the appointment of Hon. Alan Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry as the new Chairman of the Committee.

The decision was arrived at an emergency Stakeholders Meeting organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Tuesday 31st July 2018 in Accra and was attended by representatives of the following Stakeholders selected from State institutions and the trading community: National Executives and selected Regional Executives of Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA); Ministry of National Security; Ministry of Information; Ghana Investment Promotion Center; Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry & Tourism; and Consumer Protection Agency.

Other representatives were invited from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration; Ghana Police Service; Ghana Immigration Service; and Private Enterprise Federation (PEF).

The meeting agreed to include representatives from the Ghana Standards Authority and Food and Drugs Authority on the Committee.

The Government delegation to the meeting was led by Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade & Industry and included Hon. Bryan Acheampong, Minister of State, National Security; Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Deputy Minister of Information; Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Council; Hon. Nana Amaniapong Marfo (MP); Hon. Ato Panford (MP), Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, whiles the Ghana Union Traders Association was led by Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA.

The deliberations took account of the legal, socio-economic, political and diplomatic as well as security considerations of maintaining peace, order and sanity in the domestic retail landscape, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant local laws and regulations.

The next meeting of the Committee on Retail Trade has been scheduled for Monday, 6th August 2018.

HON. ALAN KYEREMATEN
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
DR. JOSEPH OBENG
PRESIDENT OF GHANA UNION OF TRADERS
(GUTA)