The Deputy Chief Executive Officer, of Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI), Benjamin Nii Kpani Addy has called on the members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) to engage in trading more amongst African states and shun the excessive importation of goods which drives the country’s economy into distress.
According to Mr. Addy, GUTA should focus on establishing trade with other African countries to boost the local economy.
He stated that GUTA’s demand for foreign goods contributes to the high numbers of unemployment rates recorded in the country.
He charged the Association to make it a point to export some of the locally manufactured goods to the African market and advised them to take advantage of the AFCFTA secretariat to grow local businesses.
“You say you are Ghana Union of Traders Association. Is your trade all about imports? What happens to exports? Why don’t you carry some of the things here and go sell them in Mali, Burkina and other African countries.?
Have you forgotten that as long as you’re going to China to bring those cheaper goods you are creating unemployment here?
The factories in China are manufacturing in excess which makes you go and buy them cheap and bring them here.
Those factories are employing their people whereas Ghanaians are left unemployed,”Nii Kpani said.
He, however, added that the Association invests in local businesses to boost the economy.
Meanwhile, the Organiser of GUTA, in the Western Region, Kingsley Arthur said, the local industries cannot meet the demand hence the influx of foreign goods in the country.
Mr. Arthur called on authorities to make sure the law which permits Ghanaian businesses to engage in retail business is working and that no foreigner is allowed to deal in the retail business.
“If you want to stop importing products to Ghana it will be a difficult task to accomplish, we should churn our focus on how best to make the industry stable for all to have a fair share of the business space.
Some Ghana does export their product though it’s on a small scale.
The local industries lack raw materials and they so do not meet the demand of the local marketer.
We request that GUTA should regulate the influx of foreigners in the retail sector because that space is meant for local businesses”
