Economic news for Friday, October 1, 2021
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
2021-10-01
GUTA and NUTAG are in a trade war over the latter’s presence in retail
• GUTA and NUTAG clashed over Nigerians in retail
• Representatives from Nigeria and Ghana have been appointed to a joint implementation working group
• The Ministry of Commerce wants both sides to cease fire until the standoff is resolved
A joint implementation working group composed of representatives from the Union of Ghana Traders Associations (GUTA) and the Association of Nigeria Traders Associations, Ghana (NUTAG) has been established.
The task force is to implement the provisions of a new engagement framework for the participation of Nigerian nationals in retail in Ghana.
This was contained in a press release from the Ministry of Trade and Industry following a high-level bilateral meeting between Ghana and Nigeria regarding the participation of Nigerian nationals in the retail business in the country.
“The joint working group co-chaired by a senior representative of the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) and a representative of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, met three times, the first on August 10, 2021, the second on August 13, 2021 and then on August 31, 2021.
“The deliberations at these meetings were inconclusive, resulting in public comments from GUTA and NUTAG on disagreements between the two parties, in the implementation of the agreed engagement framework for the participation of nationals Nigerians to retail trade in Ghana,” the statement read. read in part.
On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, the working group will hold its next meeting, hoping to reach a resolution to this growing impasse.
The ministry therefore asked both parties to refrain from taking any other action that could harm the ongoing process.
“In this context, the Ministry requests the management of GUTA and NUTAG to refrain from any further press releases, store closures and any other action in this regard until the next meeting of the working group,” he said.
